The blood cooler/freezer combis produced for properly storing blood samples, products, and plasmas are expected to have many features. The inadequacy of these features can cause problems that may occur in a blood cooler/freezer combi. What problems may occur in a blood cooler/freezer combi, and what measures can be taken against them? We have compiled the answers for you.
What is a Blood Cooler/Freezer Combi?
Blood is frequently and urgently needed for surgeries. Considering this, it is very important to provide safe and sufficient blood. Therefore, a blood cooler is required in medical laboratories, hospitals, and blood banks. Combined with predetermined conditions, they are preferred to keep the blood obtained from blood donors intact.
While answering the question of what blood cooler/freezer combis are, the standard temperature value stands out. They offer a standard temperature value so that the movement and functions of blood cells are not impaired. Despite the problems that may occur, the cabinets are equipped with different functions. To work at their best, they should be assembled correctly, possible issues should be foreseen, and attention should be paid to the calibration standard.
How Do They Work?
During the storage of blood samples, criteria set by institutions such as the World Health Organization and the Institute of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Medicine are considered. The blood samples taken from people must be stored for 24 hours after the results are determined. The relevant laboratory specialist decides on the storage times other than the standard cases. Problems that may occur in a blood cooler/freezer combi always pose a threat, but the risk of threat is minimized due to careful storage.
The storage conditions of blood samples are of great importance. Things to do for the storage of blood samples:
- Samples should be studied without any waiting.
- Since freezing blood leads to negative consequences, it is important to store it without freezing.
- After centrifugation, samples that will wait should be stored in the refrigerator at +4 °C.
- If the blood is to be stored for a long time for different reasons, it is stored under the pre-specified conditions, with its opening closed.
- If blood samples are stored incorrectly or for a long time, differentiations are observed in the activity of enzymes in the blood, hematology, and coagulation parameters. Blood not stored at the appropriate temperature increases the risk of bacterial contamination. Problems that may occur in a blood freezer can even cause blood loss.
How Should a Blood Cooler/Freezer Combi Be?
The features of a blood cooler/freezer combi must be high in standards. However, among these features, the ones that will be useful in the face of any problem attract the main attention. Being prepared for the issues that may occur in them also makes it easier to find solutions. In this case, recording and transferring features provide ease of use. Features are listed as follows:
- The fact that user-set values can be recorded makes data easier to access. Recording up to 10 years of data using a micro SD card makes retrospective control practical. The Wi-Fi module, located in an ideal blood cabinet, allows the end user to send an email during a possible problem.
- We mentioned that temperature values are very important in blood storage cabinets. Temperature tracking, which can be done in decimal employing the sensor, supports safe use. If there is a problem, such as moving away from the set temperature during this measurement, the compressor should start up and stop automatically when the desired values are returned.
- Among the problems, power cuts also pose a threat. In a possible outage, the battery should be activated automatically. This way, the sensor can continue to measure the temperature, and the recording function will not be interrupted.
- Keeping the door open for the blood cabinets is also a problem, as it will directly affect the temperature. If the necessary precautions are taken in the blood cabinets and the door is left open, the alarm should be activated.
- The display features of blood cabinets are another factor that makes them easy to use. The reflection of possible errors on the screen, the possibility of touch-sensitive use, and the easy control of the menus support comfortable use. In addition to the audible warning, the warning is reflected on the screen.
Considering these features above, the Coolermed medical freezer provides extremely important advantages, such as getting records for the last 30 days and printing these records via a printer. In addition, the fact that 30-day recordings can be transferred via USB is also important regarding accessibility. USB is used not only for transfer but also for recording while it is plugged in. Sensor data can be transferred to external memory once every 30 seconds. Power outages can cause serious problems. Coolermed’s blood cooler/freezer combis offers stable heat for up to 8 hours in case of a power cut.
Common Issues and Solutions for Blood Cooler/Freezer Combos
Blood cooler/freezer combos are essential in healthcare, ensuring blood and plasma are stored safely. However, common issues can arise, including these:
- Importance of Environment
- Optimal Placement and Temperature Conditions
- Installation and Maintenance Considerations
- Understanding the Difference Between Medical and Standard Refrigeration
- Tailoring to Different Needs
- Technical Specifications and Hygiene Standards
1. Importance of Environment
Blood cooler/freezer combis for storing blood are as important as their features. Blood samples must be kept away from heat, light, and moisture. Therefore, blood cooler/freezer combis should be kept away from these factors.
2. Optimal Placement and Temperature Conditions
The cabinets must be placed on suitable floors to prevent problems in a blood cooler/freezer combi. This means the devices are not exposed to direct sunlight or heat sources like radiators. The ideal room temperature for the blood cooler should be between 15 and 32 degrees.
3. Installation and Maintenance Considerations
For these combis to work with full performance, attention should also be paid to the space between them and the surrounding objects or walls. The minimum distance to be left around the cabinet corresponds to 10 cm. In order not to shake the blood storage cabinets, it should be fully balanced. During installation, the door’s gasket should be checked so there is no leakage. The fact that the used electrical line is grounded also ensures safe use.
4. Understanding the Difference Between Medical and Standard Refrigeration
Medical coolers and refrigerators look the same in principle, but there are points where they differ. For this reason, the idea that refrigerators are an alternative to these medical coolers is wrong. Blood cooler/freezer combis have a temperature sensitivity of 4 degrees. In cabinets, this sensitivity varies between 2 and 8 degrees. With specially designed and suitable cabinets, problems that may occur in them are prevented without experiencing any issues.
5. Tailoring to Different Needs
Blood cooler/freezer combis are designed for different needs. While the general features of the cooler/freezer combis are similar, size and width are among the basic elements that make a difference. In addition to small-volume blood cabinets, high-volume alternatives are possible. As their volume increases, the amount of blood that can be stored also increases. The cabinets have drawers and plexiglass in the drawers. In this way, blood bags can be stored in the appropriate position.
6. Technical Specifications and Hygiene Standards
The blood cooler/freezer combi models are changing in terms of technical and functional features. The temperature ranges determined in the cabinets differ according to the blood component. Therefore, there are many answers to how many days the blood sample is stored. According to the blood to be stored, variability is observed in the temperature ranges of the blood cabinets. The blood storage cabinets, designed according to high hygiene standards, provide comfortable use. For this reason, precautions should be taken for problems that may occur in medical freezers.
You can reach our previous article at https://coolermed.com/temperature-and-humidity-monitoring-for-medication-and-medicine-cabinets/