Heat up your knowledge: Tips on single-needle protocol for RBCX

Summer is winding down, but the sun is still sizzling. That makes now the perfect time to dip into a cool capability of the Spectra Optia^™ Apheresis System: single-needle access for red blood cell exchange (RBCX). In this issue of Access Point, we explain how to choose single-needle access on Spectra Optia and explore the benefits of this method for you and your patients. Plus, we take you behind the scenes of a recent ASFA conference poster as Krystol Weidner of Hoxworth Blood Center shares how an unexpected hemoglobin S (HbS) level led to single-needle RBCX protocol improvements.

Therapeutics Systems

Improve the patient experience with single-needle red blood cell exchange

We know that one of your goals for any procedure is to enhance the patient experience. Using single-needle access for RBCX procedures can help improve the patient’s comfort, safety, and independence. It may help make your job easier. Here, we take a closer look at the potential benefits of single-needle access and explain how you can choose this option on the Spectra Optia system.

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Customer Spotlight

Single-needle RBCX:

A quality improvement project at Hoxworth Blood Center

Krystol Weidner

Apheresis Manager, Therapeutic

Apheresis Department

Hoxworth Blood Center

University of Cincinnati

At the end of an RBCX procedure for a patient with sickle cell disease (SCD), you expect to see lower HbS values than before the treatment. So, when the therapeutic apheresis team at Hoxworth Blood Center — a leader in transfusion medicine — discovered that HbS values were the same before and after a patient’s RBCX treatment, they wanted to understand why. To see how their review led to an ASFA poster — and protocol changes to improve their process — we talked with Hoxworth Apheresis Manager Krystol Weidner.

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Your Questions, Answered

Dear Access Point,

What happens if I am using a blood warmer for an RBCX procedure, but I don’t enter that information into Spectra Optia? — Cathi in Philadelphia, PA

Dear Cathi,

It is very important to enter this information so that Spectra Optia knows a blood warmer is connected to the Exchange Set. The system factors this additional tubing volume into calculations for the extracorporeal volume of the set and the volume of saline required for rinseback.

Spectra Optia also uses the entered blood warmer information to calculate the minimum volume required for a custom prime. Without knowing about the additional blood warmer tubing, Spectra Optia could recommend the incorrect custom prime volume, which could compromise the patient's ability to tolerate the procedure.

The best practice is to make sure you have the blood warmer configured if your facility always uses a blood warmer. If you are using one for a particular procedure, be sure to add the blood warmer information on the Options screen. For instructions, see your Spectra Optia system operator’s manual.

If you have a specific question about the Spectra Optia system, let us know. We will feature a reader question in each Access Point edition. Be sure to tell us your first name, hometown, and state or province. Questions not featured will be answered directly via email.

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Did You Know?

Correct connections are critical

When performing a single-needle procedure with a blood warmer, you connect the blood warmer tubing directly to the single-needle connector. Otherwise, the patient’s blood may recirculate in the blood warmer tubing, resulting in an ineffective exchange. The image demonstrates the proper technique for connecting the single-needle adapter to the blood warmer tubing for an RBCX procedure.

Resource Spotlight

> Connecting and Priming the ASTOTHERM Plus 220 Blood Warmer and ASTOTUBE Tubing Set to the Spectra Optia Apheresis System and Disposable Sets

Step-by-step instructions for configuring a blood warmer for use on Spectra Optia or selecting it as an option.

> Single-Needle RBCX Spotlight

See how using single-needle access for RBCX can provide a more personalized experience for patients, including those with sickle cell disease.

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Spectra Optia White Blood Cell Depletion Run Values Screen and Fluid Balance Data | September 12, 2024
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Spectra Optia^™ and Trima Accel^™ are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Terumo BCT, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. See TerumoBCT.com/trademarks for details.

ASTOTHERM and ASTOTUBE are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Stihler Electronic GMBH in the United States and/or other countries.