A novel approach to improving efficiency and cost saving in preoperative blood preparation.

Background: Preoperative ordering of blood products has been an area of optimization due to considerable variability among physicians; overpreparation can lead to extra costs and underpreparation of blood can potentially compromise patient safety.

Study Design And Methods: We examined the potential cost savings of extending the storage interval of a presurgical type-and-screen sample from 7 to 14 days, thereby reducing the need for a new specimen on the day of surgery.

Results: Sensitivity analysis showed annual cost savings for our institution to be an estimated $38,770 ($22,420-$73,120).

The relationship between secretory patterns of gonadotrophic hormones and the attainment of puberty in bull and heifer calves born early or late during the spring calving season.

It was suggested that an early increase in gonadotrophin secretion in calves aged between 6 and 24 weeks might be critical for initiating developmental changes culminating in puberty. An early rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) release appears to be caused by an increase in LH pulse frequency in bull calves and by an increase in LH pulse amplitude in heifer calves. Previously we have found differences in the characteristics of the LH rise between prepubertal beef calves born in spring or fall; however, age at puberty was not affected by season of birth.

Effects of a 6-day treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate after prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced luteolysis at midcycle on antral follicular development and ovulation rate in nonprolific Western white-faced ewes.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) from intravaginal sponges prolongs the lifespan of large ovarian follicles when administered after prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha)-induced luteolysis early in the luteal phase of ewes. The present study was designed to determine whether a PGF2alpha/MAP treatment applied at midcycle would alter the pattern of antral follicle growth and increase ovulation rate in nonprolific ewes. A single injection of PGF2alpha (15 mg, i.

Effects of delayed serum separation and long-term storage on the measurement of thyroid hormones in equine blood samples.

Studies were conducted to determine the effects of delaying the separation of serum from the clot and of long-term storage of serum samples on the measurement of thyroid hormones in blood from horses using a fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The measured concentrations of T3 and T4 were not affected by leaving serum on the clot for as long as 24 hours at room temperatures. Storage of serum for 19 to 22 months at -20 degrees C resulted in significant increases of measured T4, but not T3.