BLOOD MANAGEMENT
Intelligent Blood Banks – the next link in the cold chain?
Michelle Rogers, sales and marketing director at Labcold, discusses how the new Labcold Intelli range of blood banks are designed to assist with patient safety.
S
ince the introduction of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 No.5, which
applies to all hospital blood banks and blood establishments, those establishments have been required to comply with a wide range of legal requirements surrounding the storage and issue of blood products.
The BSQR regulations also extend traceability and record-keeping requirements to health establishments which receive blood and blood components such as care homes, independent clinics, hospitals, manufacturers of medicines and medical devices, and biomedical research institutes.1
As a result, the correct storage of red blood cells, plasma and platelets at the correct temperature with the surrounding air and product temperature monitored constantly to ensure that they are suitable for transfusion, is an important part of quality control2
and forms
part of the annual compliance reports that such establishments are required to submit to the MHRA.
The impact of the new legislation on the cold chain meant that manufacturers worked with
blood transfusion professionals to enhance the design of blood bank refrigerators, plasma freezers, and platelet agitators and incubators. This included fitting air and load alarms, plus dual refrigeration systems for larger units. Furthermore, as the fridges and freezers which stored the products were ruled as borderline medical devices by the EU, most good manufacturers ensure their products are certified as Class IIa Medical Devices as defined by MDD93/42/ EEC ANNEX V.3
However, there is still more to do in terms of blood bank safety which is why Labcold have developed the new Intelli range of blood banks refrigerators.
With the collection of blood highlighted as a possible problem area, plus the mandatory introduction of electronic issue of blood,4 the obvious way to improve the situation was to develop a blood bank refrigerator that ensured it was impossible to collect the wrong blood for the patient.
Fitted with individually lockable drawers, the Intelli blood refrigerators work whatever
Background – Labcold Labcold is the UK’s leading specialist manufacturer of professional
refrigeration
equipment for use in scientific, laboratory and medical applications.
Founded in 1932, Labcold is a privately owned British company with over 40 years’ experience in the supply of professional
temperature control products.
The full Labcold range, all of which is CE marked, includes blood bank refrigerators, plasma freezers, incubators, pharmacy
refrigeration,
temperature mapping and monitoring products. In addition, the company has a team of engineers to provide full service and maintenance.
60 | national health executive Jul/Aug 12 with electronic
tracking system is currently used by the hospital and unlike other blood fridges only release the drawer that contains the correct blood for the patient.
All the other drawers are securely locked, and display a red light, saving time and helping to eliminate mistakes when collecting product for transfusion.
With
the potential to be compatible with RFID technology, although they already come with a returns drawer, it is envisaged that in the future, these blood banks will be able to help with stock control and rotation. For extra peace of mind, they feature
independent refrigeration systems which mean that they offer improved temperature stability, rapid temperature recovery and should an issue occur with one system, the other will still operate so the fridge does not have to be taken out of use.
With the use of blood and the potential shortage of blood so much in the headlines, it is hoped that these new intelligent blood fridges will assist health professionals in the conservation of blood stocks. Coming complete with a two year parts and labour warranty and with a full commissioning and calibration service, plus temperature mapping and preventative maintenance contracts the Intelli range is designed from the ground up to provide added security in terms of temperature, reliability and accuracy.
References
1
tinyurl.com/NHE-Labcold-1 2
tinyurl.com/NHE-Labcold-2
3 Slatford, M. Bloodlines, BBTS, February 2009, p24 4
tinyurl.com/NHE-Labcold-4
FOR MORE INFORMATION
T: 0870 300 1001 E:
sales@labcold.com W:
www.labcold.com
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