Blood products must be stored within specific temperature ranges to safeguard their integrity and maintain regulatory compliance. The National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC) in Australia and the New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) provide the requirements for storage, transportation, and expiration of various blood products[1][2].
NPAAC and NZBS standards state blood storage devices must have the capacity and design to ensure the proper temperature is maintained. For products stored in refrigerators and freezers, such as red blood cells and plasma, the standards specify the following temperature ranges:
- Whole blood and red blood cell components should be stored from 2-6ºC
- Plasma components should be stored ≤-25ºC
Blood products are a precious, life-saving resource, so it’s critical to reduce the risk of loss due to temperature excursions. When selecting blood storage devices, facilities should choose equipment they can depend on to maintain the required temperature ranges.
In addition, with blood banks doing more with fewer staff members, poorly performing or unreliable storage devices should be the last thing they have to worry about. According to a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the healthcare workforce in Australia is under increasing pressure, with a projected shortfall of nurses and midwives by 2025[3]. Facilities should choose equipment that is reliable and built to withstand the rigours of daily use in the blood bank.
Helmer Scientific’s GX Solutions Blood Bank Refrigerators and Plasma Freezers from are designed with a heavy-duty, forced-air refrigeration system that delivers excellent temperature uniformity. This ensures the proper temperature is maintained. They have also undergone Accelerated Life Testing (ALT) to ensure they perform reliably throughout their service life.
What is accelerated life testing?
ALT is conducted during the design phase of the equipment manufacturing process. The goal of ALT is to identify and address possible system weaknesses prior to equipment being released for general use.
Testing protocols are conducted by running the equipment while exposed to increased environmental stress factors, which are much higher than would be experienced under normal use conditions. Examples include elevated ambient temperatures, humidity levels, and electrical voltage conditions.
Performing ALT ensures equipment is designed to deliver long-term reliability. Manufacturers should be able to provide information and results related to tests performed on equipment to back up reliability claims.
Helmer’s GX Solutions cold storage equipment is tested to perform consistently throughout a 10-year service life. As with all precision medical-grade equipment, regular service and preventive maintenance activities are essential to ensure peak performance.
Sources:
[1] National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council. (2023). “Requirements for Transfusion Laboratory Practice (Fourth Edition 2019).” Available at: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-npaac-docs-transfusion.htm
[2] New Zealand Blood Service. (2024). “Blood Component Information.” Available at: https://www.nzblood.co.nz/clinical-information/transfusion-medicine/blood-component-information/
[3] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2023). “Health Workforce.” Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/health-workforce
Note: As an AI language model, I don’t have real-time access to the most current information. Please verify these sources and update them as necessary to ensure accuracy and relevance.