Concierge Services

Medical Directorship

Carter BloodCare’s staff of physicians, specializing in blood banking and transfusion medicine, are available to serve as your facility’s CLIA medical director. Our team provides medical and scientific expertise in donor eligibility and deferral, donor reactions, infectious disease testing, cell therapy collection, storage and processing, centralized hospital transfusion services; as well as regulatory support and guidance. We tailor services to meet the unique needs of each facility.

Preventative Maintenance

The lack of preventative maintenance is a leading source of error in the laboratory. We offer preventative maintenance services out of our North Texas Reference & Transfusion Services laboratory in Bedford.

Pipetting is often one of the most overlooked sources of error in the laboratory and is critical in order to ensure the correct results are obtained. Our laboratory offers pipette calibration and maintenance services performed by our certified medical laboratory scientist(s) staff in our Bedford location. The calibration services package includes:

• Pipette calibration by dual wavelength colorimetric or gravimetric analysis (depending on the volume)

• Interior and exterior inspection, cleaning and lubrication

• Seal replacement and minor repairs as necessary 

• Appropriate documentation of acceptable calibration and notation of the next time calibration is required.

There are two forms required for requisitioning this service: Preventative Maintenance Service Requisition and Pipette Calibration Requisition and Receipt. Download the current forms directly from the service manual.

Samples of Known Test Results

Samples with known test results may be requested for use in multiple situations, such as staff competency assessment, implementation of new testing procedures, addition of new testing methodologies and correlation of methodologies and instrumentation. To request samples, please contact the Hospital Relations department.

On-site Transfusion Services

Limited on-site transfusion services are available as an additional model based on the facility’s need. The patient sample is collected at the facility and shipped to the Reference and Transfusion Laboratory at Carter BloodCare. Next, the laboratory performs all in-house transfusion services testing and provision of blood. 

When possible, the lab will electronically crossmatch unit(s) available in the on-site blood storage refrigerator. The on-site Carter BloodCare Reference & Transfusion staff member will be responsible for labeling crossmatched units and making them available for transfusion, rotating the inventory to prevent outdates, providing emergency release blood and issuing the compatible blood products needed by the facility.

Transfusion Products

We are committed to providing hospitals and their patients with the highest quality of blood transfusion products and exceptional customer service. From online ordering of routine blood products to highly specialized transfusion services and STAT deliveries, our dedicated team is available 24/7.

Cryopreservation and Storage

Cryopreservation is the process of cooling and storing hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) at very low temperatures to maintain their viability. The cellular therapy laboratory process involves freezing the HPC at a controlled rate with a cryoprotectant solution to approximately -90°C. Once cells are frozen, they are placed in an aluminum cassette and stored in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen at approximately -150°C or colder. 

HPCs are stored at the Bedford, Texas location. Storage agreements are for a period of five years, from the date of collection, and renew automatically. If cells remain stored after the agreement expires, the intended transplant recipient and the transplant physician are notified. At that time, a Renewal Agreement and fees must be authorized for continued storage, or remaining cells will be discarded.

We know patients and their doctors have a choice when deciding on a partner to preserve and store HPCs for future therapy. We thank you for trusting Carter BloodCare.

Biologic Sourcing

Our team is available to assist researchers and clinicians with their biologic sourcing needs.

• Standard products

• Customized collections and processing

Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) Observations

Our licensed blood banking experts, medical directors and other Carter BloodCare staff host educational sessions to prepare individuals for their Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) certification. These programs are conducted at Carter BloodCare Bedford and Tyler throughout the year, based on group interest and checklist requirements. Carter-affiliated programs and clients have priority. Our SBB preparation rotations cover a spectrum of blood banking subjects including molecular, immunology, blood groups, collection and storage of blood and components, donor processing, component therapy and quality assurance. Other observation and rotation opportunities for different certifications may be available. Please reach out to Hospital Relations for current opportunities.

Electronic Laboratory Information System (eLIS)

Carter BloodCare has developed an electronic laboratory information system software called eLIS for managing patient information and special transfusion requirements, blood specimen training and testing, patient laboratory results, blood product orders and issue, and patient transfusions. The software is 510(k) approved by the FDA for use by certified IRLs and reference laboratories. The system interfaces with several commercially available serological and molecular automated equipment. Carter BloodCare provides transparent access to eLIS using a Secure Remote Access Virtual Private Network (VPN), as well as, dedicated hosting. Access to eLIS functionality is controlled by user roles.

eLIS Modules and Features:

• Application security and configuration module

• Patients management

• Request management

• Testing/results management

• Electronic and manual crossmatch

• Product orders and fulfillment

• Product inventory interface

• Blood testing instrument interface

• Interactive Dashboards and reports

• Productivity & exception reports

• Administration management

• Support services

• Available for multiple laboratory locations

• Electronic Signatures

For more information, download our eLIS informational flyer. If you are interested in learning more about eLIS and how you can implement the software at your facility please contact Hospital Relations.

Cleanrooms - Coming Soon!

The cleanrooms located at Carter BloodCare in Bedford, Texas, are expected to be available for rent in Fall 2024 for researchers, science and technology firms and medical device companies who need to conduct temporary, or permanent, controlled manufacturing and operations.