Red blood cells are the most commonly transfused blood component. In the U.S., 40,000 units of blood are moved every day and 15 million units are used to care for 300 million people for a use rate of 50 U per 1000 members of the population each year.
An important component of storage and transport guidelines is temperature control to preserve the integrity of biological material. For example, blood and thawed plasma must store at 1°- 6° C, vaccines at 1°- 8° C, platelets must transport at 20°- 24° C, frozen plasma store at ≤ -18° C and vaccines must store between -50° to -15° C.
General household-use refrigerators and freezers are not suitable for storage of blood/plasma, vaccines, and pharmaceuticals products that are sensitive to temperature variations. Medical-grade refrigerators/freezers are designed to store temperature sensitive biological material. Reasons include:
1. Insulation is sufficient to hold temperatures better in the event of intermittent power failures.
2. Cooling technology is of higher quality to quickly bring the temperature into range.
3. Temperature monitoring devices are built in the device with audiovisual alarms for temperatures outside the set limits for the products being refrigerated
Although the cold storage industry has manufactured reliable medical-grade refrigerators and freezers, the existing units do not meet all needs. Traditional thinking says that refrigerators and freezers are large, heavy, and tethered to the wall with an electrical plug.
Technology advancements in refrigeration-cooling systems permit smaller size units that are mobile when running from a battery. Roemer Industries (www.roemerindustries.com) has designed the Roam Series medical-grade refrigerators and freezers which are mobile with wheels, compact, have self-contained cooling systems and run on batteries when not plugged to a wall. The durable shell of the units are strong enough for the U.S. military and most can run up to 20 hours from a battery. Why risk throwing away valuable blood and plasma using recreational coolers and ice packs for transport when you can just take the refrigerator or freezer with you?
Benefits of Roam Series Refrigerators and Freezers: Small and compact for mobility.
Electrical interruptions can shut down refrigerators and freezers storing temperature sensitive material so a backup battery on-board can hold temperatures steady.
Ice Pack Cooler Boxes are not ideal – the transportation of blood, plasma, platelets between and within blood banks and hospitals is often dependent on the availability of cooler boxes able to maintain temperature over long distances and in relatively high ambient temperatures. Blood is often wasted through the use of domestic type (picnic, “Igloo”) cooler boxes or other containers that cannot be relied upon to maintain temperature correctly. The absence of safe blood transport boxes therefore affects the movement of blood and compromises management of the national blood inventory.
Typical refrigerators and freezers are not durable; they are easily dented and require handling to move around to avoid damaging the cooling components. Also, environmental high ambient temperatures and humidity in the laboratory as well as in the environment where samples are collected and transported adversely affect the performance of cold storage equipment. Such adverse environmental situations place stress on the equipment, and their ability to maintain temperatures within acceptable ranges is reduced.
Roemer Industries been working with hospital organizations and the U.S. military for the last two years. The top concerns we are hearing lately from other hospital administrators are: (1) waste of blood and plasma in the operating room, (2) the hassle of dealing with constant temperature excursions on refrigerator and freezer units and (3) effective temperature monitoring during power outages.
Roam Series medical-grade refrigerators and freezers are mobile because they are compact, have self-contained cooling systems and run on batteries when not plugged to a wall. The durable shell of the units are strong enough for the U.S. military and most can run up to 20 hours from a battery. Why risk throwing away valuable blood and plasma using recreational coolers for transport when you can just take the refrigerator or freezer with you?
Take a look at the new Mass Transfusion System built exclusively for use in the Operating Room by Anesthesiologists. Contact us at www.roemerindustries.com or connect on LinkedIn.
