Special Services Laboratory
The Special Services Laboratory (SSL) provides testing and consultative services for hospital blood banks. Staffed by highly skilled technologists, both by virtue of education and training, the laboratory works up patient red cell antibody and/or antigen typing problems referred to the SSL by hospitals. These are, as a rule, complicated cases in which the SSL assists not only with identifying the antibodies but often provides compatible (matched for appropriate antigens) blood for transfusion. In a patient with antibodies blood is matched not only for ABO and D antigens but other red cell antigens, as needed.
The SSL routinely types donors to identify donors whose blood can be used for transfusion of patients with antibody(ies) or to prevent formation of antibodies. It also works closely with the American Rare Donor Program (ARDP), providing rare donors to the program and requesting help from the ARDP for rare units when needed, for local patients.
In addition to red cells, the SSL also performs patient testing for platelet antibodies in patients who are multiply transfused and for mothers with newborns who may have a low platelet count due to antibodies causing platelet destruction.
Therapeutic Apheresis
Apheresis means to take away. Using sterile, one time use software and a machine, called the cell separator, blood is separated into its components and the portion (generally plasma) harmful to the patient is removed and discarded. The removed volume is replaced by an equivalent solution, most often albumin which is derived from human blood. Patients are treated at local hospitals following the orders of the attending physician. The treatments are performed by trained nurses under the direction of the Medical Director of the region. Therapeutic apheresis is used in a variety of diseases, generally to help patients overcome the acute phase of the illness. Treatment schedules vary with the disease.
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