Frequently Asked Questions About Antibody Check^®

Does it tell me which antibody the patient has? Does the program show some kind of display that says "This patient has xyz antibody"?

No.  The program shows clearly which antibodies have been ruled out, how many times they have been ruled out, and which haven't been ruled out.  This helps the technologist resolve the panel, but the technologist makes the final decision.

I can't use anything that hasn't been cleared by the FDA. What about your software?

Yes. We have received our 510(k) clearance to market from the FDA.

What type panels can be used with Antibody Check®?

We support Bio-Rad®, Medion®, Immucor®, Ortho®, and Quotient® Panels.

I have experienced techs. Why do I need the program?

Search for selected cells is a great time saver, even for experienced techs.  You can do an initial search, save the desired cells, change search criteria as needed, and add more cells to build your selected cell panel.

I saw another program once that did the analysis, but the technologist had to type in the donor data. What about your program?

We receive all data electronically from the manufacturers, then provide it to you ready to use.  There is no typing in of “+”s and “0”s.

Can tests run on an analyzer be loaded directly into the software?

Yes, we can import Ortho® Vision results directly into Antibody Check®.  Then the tech can continue the workup – add more Vision results, search for selected cells, and take the next steps needed to identify the antibody.

How do I receive the program?

We are on the phone with you while you download the program files from our website.  Then you open the program and together we make sure everything works. The download will include the User Manual and Suggested Validation Plans.

Speaking of validation, do I have to re-validate with each update?

No. You validate the software when you first receive the program. Updates for each lot contain data only, and do not change the program, and thus do not need to be re-validated.

How do you know what panels I have?  How far back will the software search for selected cells?

Initially, you email us the lot numbers of current and expired panels you have on hand.  This is how we know what you have, and how long you keep them.  Your database is created with all these panels – it is an electronic version of your refrigerator.  The number of months in your database is only limited by how long you keep the panels.

OK, an electronic archive.  What happens when I get a new lot?

When you receive new panels, you log on to our website, then click to select and add the new lot numbers to your database.  Additionally, if it is time to drop an old panel, it is automatically removed.  You download the new database and replace the previous file.  This keeps the electronic version of your refrigerator current.

Do I have to be connected to the internet to run the program?  

No.  The internet is needed only to send your initial lot numbers and download your updates.  The program resides on your blood bank shared drive and runs locally there.  We at Antibody Check® do not have any access to this drive or any patient data.

Does the software rule out heterozygous antigens?  

No.  Antibodies are ruled out (change from gray to white) for homozygous positive antigens only, and it shows a count of these rule outs.  While the software does not rule out on heterozygous antigens, it does include the option to show counts of the number of heterozygous rule outs.

Does the program save the results?  

Nothing is saved within Antibody Check.  You can make an electronic or physical copy of the completed panel.    The printout shows the results, and computer's date and time.  This allows each facility to follow their procedures for filing the results, and the software is fully HIPAA compliant.

But I want to be paperless. Can the software help with this?  

Yes.  The panel can be “printed” to a PDF file, then saved with the rest of the patient’s electronic records.

Will the software be licensed for a shared drive as well as a single computer?  

Yes.  Most labs run the software on their shared drive.  But some use it on individual computers.  The software will be licensed for all the computers at a single facility.

In order to do business with the federal lab you must be registered.  Are you listed with SAM?

Yes. We are registered with SAM.

How much does Antibody Check® cost?  

The price is based on how many manufacturers your lab uses.  Again, we support panels from all these manufacturers:  
Bio-Rad®, Immucor®, Medion Grifols®, Ortho®, and Quotient®.

Please contact us for a customized quote for your facility.