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Ensure Your Blood Bank’s Cold Chain

SelectScience
30 Dec 2014
Sonia Nicholas
Managing Editor and Clinical Lead

Editorial article

The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes the blood cold chain as "a system for storing and transporting blood and blood products, within the correct temperature range and conditions, from the point of collection from blood donors to the point of transfusion to the patient"1.

In a hospital transfusion laboratory, the cold chain starts when the lab receives the blood bags from the donor centre to the time that the blood is transfused to the patient, or is otherwise disposed of. During this time period, it is imperative that the blood is stored within a strict temperature range, between 2 and 6°C. Blood that is subjected to temperature variations outside this range could seriously affect the quality of the blood, resulting in reduced clinical effectiveness. An increased risk of bacterial growth in blood stored at sub-optimal temperatures could also cause life-endangering transfusion reactions in the recipient.

The Dometic Blood Cold Chain strictly observes international standards and WHO-tested and recommended specifications. This enables the laboratory to keep the blood safe through precisely temperature controlled transport and storage solutions.

The Dometic BR range of blood bank refrigerators allows for the legally safe storage of blood bags/erythrocyte concentrates at 4°C, according to Medical Device 93/42/EEC. The BR range comprises five blood refrigerators that are built in compliance with the requirements of DIN 58371 (Germany, “Blutkonserven-Kühlgeräte”/ Blood Refrigerators), ÖNORM K 2030 (Austria, ”Blutkonserven-Kühlschränke”/ Blood Refrigerators) and European Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC.

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1. WHO Blood Transfusion Safety http://www.who.int/bloodsafety/processing/cold_chain/en/

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Blood TransfusionBlood Transfusion involves giving donor blood to a recipient patient. Screening is essential to avoid transfusion reactions. Blood banks use immunohematological techniques to determine rh and ABO blood group, and screen for antibodies using specific antisera. Blood Banks use Direct Coombs Tests (DCT) and Indirect Coombs Tests (IAT) to detect hemolysis and Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN).HematologyIn Haematology / Hematology, complete blood cell counts (or full blood counts) are obtained using automated blood count analyzers to enumerate blood cell types.  Hematology also encompasses haemostasis and coagulation, thrombophilia and hemophilia, plasma viscosity and ESR analysis, hemoglobinopathies, cell morphology and haematinic measurement.Point-of-CarePoint-of-Care Testing (POCT) or Near Patient Testing (NPT) products are available for urine, blood and other clinical chemistry analyses. POCT includes: blood glucose testing, blood gas and electrolytes analysis, rapid coagulation testing (PT / INR), rapid cardiac markers diagnostics, drugs of abuse screening, urine strips testing, pregnancy testing, fecal occult blood analysis, food pathogens screening, hemoglobin diagnostics, infectious disease testing and cholesterol screening.Robotic InstrumentsRobotic instruments can be used for high-throughput automation of many lab processes. Such processes use instruments for assays like cell based assays and ELISA, for sample preparation like shakers, centrifuges and incubators, and for analysis such as sequencing and western blot analyzers. Useful features of robotic instruments include speed, reproducibility, barcode readers, software and automation.

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Ensure Your Blood Bank’s Cold Chain