Red Cross National Testing Laboratories
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Home English > Services > Blood Services > National Testing
Laboratories
Introduction: National Testing Labs
Medical advances in screening donors and testing blood have
dramatically improved blood safety. At the same time, changing
technology has imposed enormous demands on blood banks. Providing the
safest possible blood while accommodating continuing technological
advances requires a streamlined and state-of-the-art national system
of testing laboratories that can adopt new technologies efficiently.
The following tests are performed on each donor at the time of
donation:
* ABO/Rh determination
* Antibody detection
* Automated test for Syphilis
* Antibody to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (anti HIV 1/2)
* Antibody to Hepatitis B Core Antigen (anti-HBc)
* Antibody to Hepatitis C Virus (anti-HCV)
* Antibody to Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus (anti HTLV I/II)
* Nucleic Acid Test for HIV 1/2/HCV and West Nile Virus (WNV)
In 1991, the American Red Cross began a transformation that made
significant changes to the structure, operation and culture of Blood
Services. Regional blood operations were consolidated and standardized
with a comprehensive Quality Assurance system and pharmaceutical-like
operation. A streamlined network of testing laboratories designed to
surpass current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) is one of the key
supports of this program.
Initially, the Red Cross consolidated its network of 53 original Red
Cross testing laboratories into nine National Testing Laboratories
(NTL) facilities. In 2005, further consolidation occurred and now five
state-of-the-art NTLs are located as follows:
Charlotte NTL
13500-A South Point Blvd
Charlotte, NC 38373
Portland NTL
12124 NE Ainsworth Circle
Portland, OR 97220
Detroit NTL
100 Eliot Street
Detroit, MI 48201
St. Louis NTL
4050 Lindell Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63108
Philadelphia NTL
700 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
All blood collected at Red Cross regional blood centers is now tested
at Red Cross NTLs. This modern system of fewer and larger standardized
labs allows the rapid adoption of changes in technology and new tests
and responds to medical and scientific challenges. Additionally, the
Red Cross NTLs have attracted the interest of non-Red Cross blood
centers and hospitals to perform their testing.
* Fewer, Larger Laboratories
The first of the National Testing Laboratories (NTL) was opened
in August, 1992, and the final NTL was opened in May 1995. Today, all
of the nearly 7.2 million units of blood donated annually to the Red
Cross are tested at the organization's NTLs in Detroit, Philadelphia,
Charlotte, N.C., Portland, Ore., and St. Louis, Miss.
* Identical Operating Procedures, Training and Equipment
Implementation of standardized operating procedures and training
and identical equipment at all NTLs improve quality control and
facilitate the adoption of new technology. Each NTL implements a
quality assurance program to help maintain high testing standards.
* Quality Service Delivery and Economies of Scale
Ninety-five percent of all blood is tested by the NTLs within 15
hours from the time the blood samples are shipped from the regional
blood centers; 99 percent of all blood is tested within 24-hours. The
requisite technology and automation enable the Red Cross to meet high-
service requirements at lower costs.
* Lead Role in Blood Safety and Research
The NTLs—because of their size and identical equipment and
procedures—also host clinical trials for new or improved blood tests.
These trials are in cooperation with the manufacturers of blood test
reagents.
* Tests from 7.2 Million Samples Each Year
Standardized operating procedures, equipment and training
maximize sample testing flow and flexibility.
* Emergency Back-up Plan
Each NTL can transfer its testing to another NTL for emergency
testing in case of natural disasters or other unanticipated
contingencies, and each was designed to accommodate substantial
additional testing for just such occurrences.
* Testing Support
Testing support located in Charlotte, N.C., provides Quality
Assurance, Human Resources, Process Optimization and Operations
Support for the five NTLs.
The American National Red Cross. ABOUT US | FAQs | CONTACT US
| SITE DIRECTORY
American Red Cross National Headquarters 2025 E Street NW –
Washington, DC 20006 – 800-733-2767 | TO DONATE: 800-REDCROSS /
800-257-7575 (Español)
https://6l3zyr.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_494_,00.html
Death
"thezak" <don.s...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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Testing Support
Biomedical Services Map
Testing Table of Organization
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http://americansfortruth.com/news/fda-retains-lifetime-ban-on-homosexuals-donating-blood.html
Martin
>http://americansfortruth.com/news/fda-retains-lifetime-ban-on-homosexuals-donating-blood.html
----- Begin Quote -----
Gay men remain banned for life from donating blood, the government
said Wednesday, leaving in place � for now � a 1983 prohibition meant
to prevent the spread of HIV through transfusions.
[...]
Before giving blood, all men are asked if they have had sex, even
once, with another man since 1977. Those who say they have are
permanently banned from donating. The FDA said those men are at
increased risk of infection by HIV that can be transmitted to others
by blood transfusion.
----- End Quote -----
That just goes to prove that no one really believed the 'anyone can
get HIVAIDS' myth.
I like what the FDA says about the highly accurate and specific HIV
test, which as we all know doesn't test for HIV anyway:
----- Begin Quote -----
The FDA said HIV tests currently in use are highly accurate, but still
cannot detect the virus 100 percent of the time. The estimated HIV
risk from a unit of blood is currently about one per 2 million in the
United States, according to the agency.
----- End Quote -----
I'm surprised there isn't an automatic ban on niggers donating blood
too.
--
<http://www.hiv-poz.co.uk/>
5,253 days and counting...