HAABB 2026 Fall Meeting Preview
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A COLORFUL SOLUTION TO FDA REPORTABLE EVENTS
Shay Jones
Transfusion Service Manager
The university of Kansas Health System, Kansas City, KS
1) Discuss barriers to FDA reportable events related to Improper Product Selected For Patient (QC-97-04)
2) Determine process changes to provide solutions to FDA reportable events related to Improper Product Selected For Patient (QC-97-04)
Shay Jones received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana and his Medical Technologist training from St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove, Indiana. In 2022, after working as an immunohematologist for over 11 years, Shay took a position at The University of Kansas Health Systems as the Transfusion Service Manager. He has been presented for HAABB multiple times and has been a member of the board for several years.
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ANTIBODY ADVENTURES: A DONOR CASE SERIES
Jennifer Jung
IRL Supervisor
American Red Cross, Maryland Hieghts, MO
- Describe the donor testing requirements for antibody detection and identification.
- Explain the testing performed by Creative Testing Solutions (CTS) and its role in donor antibody detection.
- Describe the Immunohematology Reference Laboratory (IRL) process used to verify CTS positive donor screens and identify antibodies.
- Discuss product utilization considerations when donor antibodies are identified.
- Review case studies that illustrate the application of donor antibody testing principles.
Jennifer Jung is the Supervisor of the Maryland Heights Immunohematology Reference Laboratory, one of the American Red Cross’s five extra large IRLs, where she leads a highly skilled team responsible for both patient and donor antibody investigations. After nearly 28 years in the IRL, she still loves the daily puzzle‑solving, the variety of cases, and the thrill of learning something new every day. Jennifer recently earned her SBB certification—an accomplishment she proudly achieved after more than two decades in the field. Her experience includes past service as an AABB assessor, extensive work in document control & development, and ongoing roles as Associate Editor for Immunohematology and webmaster for HAABB. When not at work, she can be found cheering at her son’s baseball games or happily disappearing into digital scrapbooking, Netflix marathons, Legos, puzzles, or more recently Diamond Art. Today, she’ll be diving into the unique world of donor antibody identification.
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CASE STUDY - SPILL THE BEANS
Gina Folk
IRL Manager
Community Blood Center Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Objectives:
- Define polyagglutination.
- Describe laboratory tests to confirm polyagglutination.
- Describe a case of polyagglutination in a child.
Gina is the IRL Manger and has worked at the Community Blood Center of Kansas City for 13 years. Gina received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Clinical Laboratory Science from the University of Jamestown in Jamestown, ND. She obtained her SBB from the NIH in Bethesda, MD and completed her Masters in Immunohematology and Biotechnology from George Washington University. Gina has also been an AABB IRL Assessor for the past 8 years and recently joined both the AABB IRL Standards Committee and the IRL Accreditation Committee. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, going for walks with her next-door neighbor and her neighbor's four dogs. She is also often heard regaling stories and antics about her husband, two very rambunctious sons and three cats.
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WHOLE BLOOD USAGE PANEL
Carrie Easley
Laboratory Manager, Quality & Transfusion Safety
Stormont Vail Health, Topeka, KS
David Harsh
Manager, Hospital Services
Community Blood Center Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Shay Jones
Transfusion Service Manager
The Univeristy of Kansas Health System, Kansas City, KS
1) Discuss blood center requirements necessary to provide whole blood to transfusion services
2) Describe the use of whole blood for transfusion and related patient requirements
Carrie has been at Stormont Vail Health since 2009 and is currently the Laboratory Manager of Quality and Transfusion Safety. She received her MLS from the University of Kansas Medical Center in 1998 and passed the SBB exam by the experience route in 2022. Carrie received her Master of Science in Transfusion Medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch in 2024. Carrie enjoys working with professionals from across medical disciplines to optimize care of hemorrhaging and critically ill patients while also encouraging responsible stewardship of blood components. Carrie has been married to her husband, Matt, for over 30 years, has 5 adult children, and an amazing granddaughter.
David started with Community Blood Center in 2015 in the Product Testing and Product Control lab. He has held various titles at CBC including Component Lab Supervisor, Quality Systems Training Specialist and currently serves as the Hospital Services Manager. David has served on many projects to help bring innovative lifesaving products to hospitals and EMS in Kansas City, including CBC’s Whole Blood program. He is actively working with area leaders to continue the development of this program. David enjoys kayaking, watching football, especially the Chiefs, and spending time with his wife and kids.
Shay Jones received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana and his Medical Technologist training from St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove, Indiana. In 2022, after working as an immunohematologist for over 11 years, Shay took a position at The University of Kansas Health Systems as the Transfusion Service Manager. He has been presented for HAABB multiple times and has been a member of the board for several years.
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MYSTERIES IN LABOR AND DELIVERY
Gino Gaytano Technical Specialist Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO
Barnes-Jewish Hospital has one of the largest Transfusion Medicine Laboratories in St. Louis and supports patients from the Obstetrics and Gynecology/Labor and Delivery service lines, including referrals from other BJC Health and Non-BJC facilities. This presentation focuses on the not so common antibody cases encountered and steps taken to resolve the mystery found within.
Gino Gaytano is the Technical Specialist in the Transfusion Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Originally from the Philippines, spent some time in the Middle East before moving to the USA. He has more than 20 years of experience in the field of Transfusion Medicine/Blood Bank. Gino obtained his Specialist in Blood Banking in 2024.
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CASE STUDY
Dr Susie Thibodeaux Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO
Transfusion support for patients with sickle cell disease can vary, and some patients may need multiple transfusions throughout their lives. Finding blood for patients with sickle cell disease who develop multiple alloantibodies to red blood cells can be logistically difficult, sometimes necessitating prolonged and closely coordinated national searches. This session will highlight some patient cases that demonstrate the intricate process of coordinating blood needs in the context of caring for patients with sickle cell disease.
By the end of this presenting, audience members should be able to:
- Recall potential clinical impact on patients with evolving red blood cell alloimmunization.
- Describe interplay of blood needs with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after genetic modification.
Dr. Suzie Thibodeaux is a Professor in Pathology & Immunology and Medicine at WashU Medicine, where she oversees the Transfusion Medicine group. Her clinical responsibilities include service as Medical Director of Transfusion Services at Barnes-Jewish Hospital including the Apheresis, Blood Bank, and Cellular Therapy Laboratory Services.
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RH YOU READY? OVERVIEW OF A BLOOD GROUP SYSTEM THROUGH CASES Lynsi Rahorst Director, Education & Training New York Blood Center Enterprises, Kansas City, MO
- Describe important aspects of the RH blood group system revealed through a review of history.
- Identify widely familiar and less familiar antigens of the RH blood group system.
- Discuss circumstances in which RH antibodies present unique challenges in the blood bank.
Lynsi completed her Medical Laboratory Science degree at Northwest Missouri State University with clinical rotation at St. Lukes Hospital in Kansas City. She earned a Masters of Health Professions Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and is ASCP-certified as a Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB). After working for several years in the Immunohematology Reference Laboratory at Community Blood Center in Kansas City, Lynsi is now Director of Education and Training for New York Blood Center Enterprises. In this role, she supports training of laboratory staff and directs educational programs and content offered by NYBCe for the greater transfusion medicine community. She has served on multiple AABB committees, is an AABB IRL assessor, and participates in Spanish language initiatives in transfusion medicine education. Lynsi is passionate about educating and training the next generation of leaders in immunohematology and genomics.
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VISCOELASTIC TESTING IN THE OPERATING ROOM
Dr. Jonathan K. Zoller
Washington University Department of Anesthesiology, St. Louis, MO
This presentation will be a review of how viscoelastic testing is used in the operating room to guide medical decision-making from an Anesthesiologist perspective. It will encompass a review of the ROTEM Sigma technology; both how this instrument works and how the results are interpreted. The presentation will also discuss the workflow changes for obtaining cryoprecipitate with the adoption of INTERCEPT fibrinogen supplementation at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Finally, the presentation will review the strategies we employ in the operating room at Barnes-Jewish Hospital to reduce overall blood product wastage.
Dr Zoller is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Washington University in St. Louis, and currently works at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Missouri Baptist Medical Center in the St. Louis area. He completed his residency in Anesthesiology at the University of Kansas and a fellowship in Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology at Washington University in St. Louis. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Clinical Anesthesiology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. His clinical interests include anesthesia for cardiac surgery and liver transplantation, with a focus on quality in safety and anesthesiology care.
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