BlueView

Colleen Holtkamp

Helmer designs, manufactures, and markets specialized medical and laboratory equipment to customers in more than 125 countries. With an extensive background in Helmer products, Colleen’s focus is on the Clinical Laboratory and Blood Bank segments.

Recent Posts

Important Considerations for Storing Rare Blood

Posted on Dec 19, 2018 by Colleen Holtkamp

Blood centers are responsible for the storage and management of rare red blood cells (RBCs). AABB Standards state that rare RBCs should be stored below -65C for up to 10 years. These rare units may even be kept indefinitely due to their scarcity and value. Protecting rare blood...

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FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Bacterial Risk Control Strategies for Platelets

Posted on Dec 14, 2018 by Colleen Holtkamp

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a draft guidance document entitled “Bacterial Risk Control Strategies for Blood Collection Establishments and Transfusion Services to Enhance the Safety and Availability of Platelets for Transfusion.” (The new version...

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Video Series:  Four Factors to Consider when Selecting an Ultra-Low Freezer

Posted on Dec 07, 2018 by Colleen Holtkamp

Laboratories rely on ultra-low temperature storage to protect sensitive (and in some cases, irreplaceable) samples from being exposed to unacceptable temperatures. When evaluating various ultra-low freezers, it is important to know what to look for. There are critical design...

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AABB Monitoring CDC Reports on Ebola

Posted on Nov 30, 2018 by Colleen Holtkamp

Photo credit:  cdc.gov

In the United States blood system, if the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) determines that one or more countries are experiencing widespread transmission of the Ebola virus, specific Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance should be implemented in...

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News Roundup - Helmer Scientific

Posted on Nov 09, 2018 by Colleen Holtkamp

Helmer Scientific has recently been featured in Inside Indiana Business and Noblesville Magazine.  Check out an array of stories about Helmer’s innovations, products, and partnerships along with our generosity initiatives.

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Helmer Scientific to Exhibit at MEDICA 2018 International Trade Fair

Posted on Nov 01, 2018 by Colleen Holtkamp

At Helmer Scientific, we are looking forward to exhibiting at the world’s leading medical trade fair, MEDICA 2018. MEDICA takes place in mid-November each year in Dusseldorf, Germany. This year’s fair will be held from November 12-15. The Helmer Scientific exhibit will be...

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Researchers Discover How to Convert Types A & B Blood into Type O

Posted on Oct 24, 2018 by Colleen Holtkamp

Blood transfusions must be compatible with the recipient’s blood type. If the blood is not compatible, the patient’s immune system attacks the transfused red blood cells, causing a potentially fatal transfusion reaction. This would be the case if someone with type A blood...

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Options for Pre-transfusion Testing - Where Does Tube Testing Fit?

Posted on Oct 11, 2018 by Colleen Holtkamp

Pre-transfusion testing refers to the laboratory tests required to ensure compatibility between a patient’s blood and a transfusion of donated blood. This process includes patient identification, sample collection and labeling, and laboratory testing to determine the patient’s...

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Come See Helmer Scientific at the 2018 AABB Annual Meeting

Posted on Oct 04, 2018 by Colleen Holtkamp

The 2018 AABB Annual Meeting is just around the corner. It takes place from October 13 – 16, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. At Helmer Scientific, we’re looking forward to our 39th consecutive year of exhibiting at AABB. Come and see us at Booth #1833!

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Maternal Complications and Transfusion Rate Rising in the U.S.

Posted on Sep 25, 2018 by Colleen Holtkamp

The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has reported that the occurrence of serious complications during childbirth is on the rise in the United States. These serious complications are referred to as severe maternal...

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Welcome to the Helmer Blue View Blog. We aim to share relevant, actionable content for the blood bank, laboratory, and pharmacy. At Helmer Scientific WE CARE about you, the caregiver, and how we can help make your journey more meaningful.

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