Is It Time to Switch from Conventional Coombs Crossmatching to the Type and Screen Protocol?

Background: ABO grouping, Rh typing and crossmatching are routinely done as part of pre-transfusion testing. The Type and Screen (T&S) protocol has been used in developed countries to ensure the survival of transfused red cells. In this study, we compared the safety, costs and turnaround times (TATs) of the T&S protocol and the conventional pre-transfusion testing protocol for patients who had been scheduled for elective obstetrical or gynaecological procedures.

Factor assay in victims of snake bite: Experience from a tertiary care institute in South India.

Introduction: Snake bites tend to cause a high mortality in those who develop coagulopathy. However, there is very limited literature on clotting factor assays in these patients, especially in the presence of clinical bleeding. The aim was to assess the coagulation profile and individual coagulation factors in patients with hematotoxic snake bites.

Rapid dry plasma thawing system: An alternative to conventional thawing baths.

Background: Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) should be thawed before transfusing to the patient. Prolonged or uncontrolled thawing can denature plasma proteins. The potential risk of contamination by wet thawing had always been a point of concern.

Evaluation of process excellence tools in improving donor flow management in a tertiary care hospital in South India.

Background: Process Excellence is a value based approach and focuses on standardizing work processes by eliminating the non-value added processes, identify process improving methodologies and maximize capacity and expertise of the staff.

Aim And Objectives: To Evaluate the utility of Process Excellence Tools in improving Donor Flow Management in a Tertiary care Hospital by studying the current state of donor movement within the blood bank and providing recommendations for eliminating the wait times and to improve the process and workflow.

Materials And Methods: The work was done in two phases; The First Phase comprised of on-site observations with the help of an expert trained in Process Excellence Methodology who observed and documented various aspects of donor flow, donor turn around time, total staff details and operator process flow.

Perioperative normovolemic hemodilution in a case of leiomyomatous erythrocytosis.

A 66-year-old female patient presented with complaints of abdominal discomfort, pigmentation and numbness of both lower limbs for 3 years duration. On examination, she had erythema of the face and palms. Investigations revealed high hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct) and erythropoietin.