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

Best of 2021: Blood Bank

Posted on Jan 04, 2022 by Colleen Holtkamp

Helmer Scientific has gathered the top ten blood bank posts from 2021. Popular topics included the new GX Solutions plasma freezers, the capabilities of the i.C3® Information Center, and the benefits of Pro Line platelet storage. Within these posts you will find a variety of...

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Clinical Laboratories Testing for Multiple Respiratory Viruses

Posted on Dec 23, 2021 by Colleen Holtkamp

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical laboratories have had to ramp up testing for SARS-CoV-2. In addition, this year labs have had to prepare for a potential “perfect storm” of testing for influenza A, influenza B, and RSV along with COVID-19.

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Survey Highlights Importance of Rare Blood Inventories

Posted on Dec 14, 2021 by Colleen Holtkamp

Safe blood transfusions rely on accurate typing and cross-matching, which ensures compatibility between the donor’s and the recipient’s blood. An individual’s blood type is based on whether certain proteins are present on their red blood cells. These proteins, called antigens,...

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U.S. Blood Centers Launch the Nation’s First Emergency Blood Reserve

Posted on Dec 07, 2021 by Colleen Holtkamp

A stable, sustainable blood supply is an essential element of every health care system. Surge capacity is also critical in the event of a large-scale emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic has put pressure on the U.S. blood supply, elevating concerns about disaster preparedness.

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Clinical Lab Staffing Even More Challenging with COVID-19

Posted on Nov 30, 2021 by Colleen Holtkamp

Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical laboratories were facing a shortage of qualified personnel to meet their staffing needs. As the pandemic has continued, staffing challenges have become more acute. In addition, some testing supplies have become scarce and...

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Safeguard Life-Saving Platelets with AdvanceCore™ Technology

Posted on Nov 16, 2021 by Colleen Holtkamp

Across the country, blood collection centers are urging healthy individuals to donate platelets. While demand for this life-saving therapy is high, a limited shelf life and low donor turnout have meant supply is scarce. Recent issues with shipping delays as well as canceled or...

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Minimizing Risk to Samples During Ultra-Low Freezer Door Openings

Posted on Nov 11, 2021 by Colleen Holtkamp

Laboratories rely on ultra-low temperature freezers to maintain the integrity of precious patient samples and test materials. The most important function of an ultra-low freezer is to prevent stored products from being exposed to warmer temperatures. All aspects of the...

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Blood Supply Under Pressure as COVID-19 Pandemic Continues

Posted on Nov 02, 2021 by Colleen Holtkamp

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the blood bank community has had to deal with unprecedented challenges to the blood supply, along with fluctuations in demand. Blood suppliers and hospitals have had to be flexible to manage the situation. Organizations that collect...

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High Performance Storage for Current and Leftover Specimens

Posted on Oct 26, 2021 by Colleen Holtkamp

Clinical laboratories must store temperature-sensitive patient specimens for diagnostic testing. Properly storing the current inventory of patient samples is important for ensuring accurate test results, which in turn impacts patient care. Specimens that are no longer needed...

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Easily Generate PDF Temperature Graphs, Event Reports with i.C3® Information Center

Posted on Oct 21, 2021 by Colleen Holtkamp

i.Series® temperature-controlled storage products from Helmer Scientific feature the i.C3® Information Center. This touchscreen user interface provides continuous temperature monitoring as well as reporting capabilities. The i.C3® supports clinical laboratories and blood banks...

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Welcome

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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