Blood Bank Guy Essentials Podcast

Dr. Josephson returns to the podcast, and she is back in style! Blood bankers may struggle with the details of red blood cell transfusion to neonates, as there are important differences between this group and the adults and older children we are more accustomed to transfusing. Cassandra is your guide, and she answers "Five Essential Questions about Neonatal RBC Transfusion." When should we give RBCs to babies? What about "old" RBCs; Does age of blood matter? Is preservative important? Should the RBCs be modified? How do I test for compatibility? This is a fun and fast-moving episode. Visit the show page at BBGuy.org/034

Interactions between Blood Bank and Emergency Department staff in stressful times (like massive transfusions) can be difficult. Good news: A world-renowned ER physician says it doesn't have to be that way! Dr. Scott Weingart of the EMCrit podcast joins me to discuss how we can understand each other better.

"Have a steak! Eat your spinach!" Age-old advice from blood collectors to donors, but is it good enough? Jed Gorlin shows us why the old iron ways may not best!

Ever feel like you are missing something? If you aren't using Twitter to keep up with blood banking advancements, you should be! The 140 character platform is so useful for connecting with others, learning from conferences you can't attend, and developing your own vision and presence. This roundtable discussion takes you through the essentials of blood banking on Twitter. Jerad Gardner, Kate Pendry, Justin Kreuter, and Sandy Minck show you the way!

Dr. Eric Gehrie, an associate director of transfusion medicine at Johns Hopkins, dives into the complexities of sickle cell disease and its implications for blood transfusion. He reveals how a single amino acid can affect patient outcomes. The conversation highlights the challenges of alloimmunization and the vital need for genetic and serological matching. Eric emphasizes the global scope of sickle cell management, touches on emerging treatments like gene therapy, and shares his passion for safety in transfusion practices, making for an engaging discussion.

Molecular (genetic) testing is everywhere in medicine today, and the blood bank is no exception! You don't have to be an expert geneticist to see how it all fits, however. Meghan Delaney joins me to present 7 practical uses for molecular testing in transfusion medicine.

For such a simple test, the Direct Antiglobulin ("Coombs") Test confuses the heck out of most every blood bank student, to say nothing of many clinicians! Sue Johnson is here to guide us to better understanding of this most excellent immunohematology test.

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT), the disease with many names, continues to confound blood bankers everywhere! The conversation goes like this: "This baby has a low platelet count...is it NAIT?" Dr. Brian Curtis tells Dr. Chaffin how to take the right steps to find the answer, both in the real world and the exam world.

Jeff Winters described the essentials of therapeutic apheresis in BBGuy Essentials 025. He is back today to address how to use those principles to treat Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, or "TTP." This terrifying disease, caused in adults primarily by a deficiency of an enzyme with a funny name, "ADAMTS13", can be rapidly fatal if not promptly diagnosed and treated.

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Jeff Winters, editor of the Journal of Clinical Apheresis and director of the therapeutic apheresis service at Mayo Clinic, sheds light on the often misunderstood world of therapeutic apheresis. He shares insights about its significance in treating various medical conditions and explores different apheresis techniques, comparing practices across countries. Dr. Winters emphasizes the collaborative roles of medical professionals in this specialty, all while demystifying plasma exchange and discussing its impact on patient outcomes.