Bacterial Detection
Program Code: 321-TC
Monday, October 25, 2004
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM (ET)

SPEAKERS
Roslyn Yomtovian, MD, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve Univ
Dennis Harpool, MT(ASCP)SBB, Blood Systems, Inc.
Mark Brecher, MD, University of North Carolina Hospitals

DESCRIPTION
AABB and the College of American Pathologists (CAP) require accredited institutions to take steps to detect bacteria in platelets. There are a variety of methods available to accomplish this, and each has a different sensitivity, specificity, validation requirements, testing time and cost requirements. This session will review techniques that are available today for this purpose, as well as look at techniques that will be available soon. What can be accomplished now to detect bacterial contamination? Is it better to culture before storage or test just before issuance for transfusion? What options will be available in the near future? Experts who have extensive experience with a variety of techniques to help you improve yours will address these issues.

OBJECTIVES

• Describe the methodologies available for detection of bacteria in platelets post-storage
• Evaluate the technologies available for detection of bacteria in platelets prior to storage
• Discuss the technologies under development for detection of bacteria in platelets

AUDIENCE
Physicians, Scientists, Technologists, Managers/Supervisors

PROGRAM LEVEL
Intermediate to Advanced