Effective July 20, the DeGowin Blood Center will expand its policy related to holding Type & Screen specimens for Pretransfusion Compatibility Testing. Effective July 20, all clinical areas will be able to submit a request to hold a Type and Screen (ABO, Rh, Antibody screen). The revised procedure, DeGowin Blood Center Standard Operating Procedure BC-475.11, is available on The Point under Transfusion Protocols.
• The procedure title will change from "Emergency Treatment Center and Clinical Cancer Center Pretransfusion Compatibility Testing Specimen Guidelines" to "Hold-Pretransfusion Compatibility Testing Specimen Guidelines".
• The policy is no longer limited to ETC and CCC.
• The IPR e-order for HOLD-Type and Screen ABO, Rh, Antibodies will no longer have the ETC and CCC notation.
• The A-1a Pathology Doctor's Order Blood Center Request will also be revised on the next printing to remove ETC & CCC in parenthesis.

Questions should be directed to Char Elbert, MT(ASCP)SBB, Assistant Laboratory Manager, DeGowin Blood Center, 6-1836 or charlene-elbert@uiowa.edu.