ABBWalker

Thanks Rashmi, we could casue a real debate on this subject, on the issue of pharmacies, I understand there are moves to bring them in alignment with the Bloodbanks, as the commercial pharma companies already come under MHRA scrutiny, I now a quite a few hospital pharmacy sites have been included at the same time as we do the Bloodbanks and some have also approached us separately. I was led to believe something offical was coming out later this year not sure when so until its confirmed. Cheers ABBwalker.

Hi Rashmi, This subject is open to different interputations throughout the UK, we believe in giving the customers what they want, to give them peace of mind. However you know who we go too, for advice from time to time, and I will send you said info privately, you should map in core with 200ml of ordinary "tapwater", some add Glycerol such as the NBS, which is optional, the reason for water and not air, is the temperature fluctuations are more accurate, and when you have an intrusion (door opening) the data is then recorded in seconds, so you can see the temperature rising the longer you leave the door open, we have also found when air temps have been used in some fridges that are borderline, you can have shelves taken out of service for cold or hot spots, using water can sometimes bring them back into use. Cheers ABBWalker.

I tell you what I was discussing this the other day with the MOD in the UK who use some very expensive American made transport boxes which they use to ship blood all over the world and stays in temp range for 72 hours, which blows the std 4-8 hour box's away, if you drop me a private note I will put you in touch with the person from the MOD in the UK who can pass on the company concerned details. Cheers.

Eoin Conflict of interest I think not, just telling the truth, we don't like to see people ripped off by these companies and do a lot work to help them, and makesure they understand everything about what they could potentially buy, and that they actually do what they are supposed to do without being taken in by salesman talk. And then buying useles system's that don't work ! OFF WHICH I could name quite a few.

I am sorry to say I think Eoin is completly wrong, I would expect any one with common sense would discuss this with there QA people, as you need electronic and paper copies, so don't do away with your chart recorder paper or electronic. Cheers. ABB Walker.

I see valid points from you all in the Validation area, what we do at ABB is work with you and make sure as the process goes through validation, is to make sure you understand everything about Validation and that when complete you have complete faith in your process and it will stand up against any scrutiny.

If your thinking of a independant company to do your validation, this is one area we do cover through our engineering services, in the UK we have already sorted out the Welsh Blood service and talking to the NBS at present, if your looking for help drop me a private message and I will makesure it gets passed to the right person within our organisation. Cheers ABBWalker.

Hi All, Just curious in the UK we have the MHRA who govern the Bloodbanks and coldchain equipment, and they in turn perform audits etc throuhout the UK and they can be pains in the A**e, although to be fair a good thing. Who governs the USA is it the FDA or do you have something similar, as I said before just curious as I have had several enquiries from the US about Temp mapping and Calibration, to be honest we have also had enquiries from Spain and the Benelux countries so any info about such authorities in each country would be appreciated. With ABB being a truly global company I am sure we can address all the other countires we have a presence in. Regards, ABB Walker.

Hi Rashmi, The timelines are on the link and your right, you need to change over ASAP if not and a compressor fail's after the required date, your snookered and need new equipment.(System contamination issues). You can re-gas and I think but check the link, this needs to be done by early January 2010 and costs typically £400, any equipment purchased after 2007 should be CFC free, so basically anything pre-2007 may have R22 etc in the compressor and needs to be checked, your estates should have already surveyed your equipment, but double check as I know of quite a few who have turned a blind eye to it. Cheers.

Hi Rashmi, This is going to catch a lot of people out in the UK and I would urge anyone within Bloodbanks to check this website out urgently, http://www.fgas.org/ Some dept managers know all about this or have been informed via there estates dept, however there are quite a lot who know nothing about it, basically you need to change your refrigerant gas, most common one being R22, which should be identfied on the compressor name plate or painted on it, just check against the timelines on the F-Gas regs, if you dont change it and continue to use it, shortly you will have to scarp the whole peice of equipment so think about setting aside some capex for a equipment replacement program. I could bore you all about this subject, but no need as the info is on the web-link. Cheers.

Hi Nikki, Paper chart recorders are a pain even though we still make them @ABB mainly for the third world exports I hasten to say, we now have the worlds first videographic unit, which means as long as you have an ethernet connection nearby it takes away all the agro out of changing paper, worrying about pen nib ink level etc and can be viewed at you workstation desktop in chart recorder format. You can even print out in said format to satisfy your QA dept requirements, best thing about this product is it's windows based so there is no need for fancy monitoring system software costs, and will fit directley into the same size hole as 95% of the current chart recorders in use, if you can get in touch I will send yoiu the associated flyers to review. Cheers.

No worries Shirley, I wasn't about to name the particular CEO in person, I am not into naming and shaming, it just seems as though BBM's have a general problem with them not understanding how important it is to comply with the MHRA and how the implication could impact on any hospital. In short it is far cheaper to make sure you comply and if you don't and something goes wrong, the cost implications would be considerably higher, it just seems common sense to me ! Cheers. Dave

Hi L106, Sorted should be available in 5 working days once reviwed. cheers. Dave.

Hi L106, No Probs I will post it in once I find out how to, I am new on here, so I am just getting the hang of the site. Cheers, Dave.

Hi Rashmi, I think the problem is that most don't get the support they should be getting, with me looking in from outside it seems to be a very vicous circle and a dangerous game some CEO's are playing, I felt that sorry for one of these sites, I actually dived in and helped her out, and sort a particulary poor monitoring system company, (Invisible systems) on her behalf, I won't tell how I did it, but to say she was grateful was a positive result, and cheered her up no end, as it was one less problem for her to sortout. Cheers. Dave (ABBWalker)