[Fisherbrand Hemo-Trac]

Please take a look at this before you make your indicator decisions. 

http://williamlabs.com/blood-banks/validating-temperature-indicators-the-return-to-refrigerator-challenge/

 

[question for shockwatch users]

OK

[Cooler Validation - what regulations?]

Just wanted to throw out my two cents on the subject. Data loggers are fine for certain movement of blood. The concern that we have seen in the OR/ER environment is the gray area when the blood is removed from the cooler and then put back in 30-60 minutes later. Nobody has a clue what happened in that window. May blood banks use one time use chemical indicators. Some of these indicators have a 510K so can be used for blood products and then returned back to storage for reuse. No need to throw out the indicator just leave it on the unit for the next use or shipment. They can last up to 42 days....

[Shockwatch Warmmark 2 Blood bag temp. indicator]

In response to your postings, Digi-Trax is a distributor of the Shockwatch product, and we just wanted to share some additional tips. When using the blood bag temperature indicators, it’s really important to keep the blood bags as far from the refrigerator door as possible. Opening and closing of the refrigerator door, even for a short period, can affect the temperature of the bag. Because the indicators read the core temperature of the bag, rather than the ambient air, one should place the tag where the greatest amount of blood resides (typically near the center of the bag, not the top).

If any of you are having issues, and would like an on-site assessment to help you optimize your use of the blood temp indicators, please let me know. Also, Shockwatch is in the process of obtaining a 510(k) and anticipates having approval for this product in the next few months.

Michelle

Michelle..  There are no chemical indicators on the market today that actually read "core temperature".  There are simulated core temperatures that can be read, however the indicator you are representing is not reading the actual core temperature.  The only way to read "core temperature" is to probe the blood with a calibrated electronic indicator.  I noticed this was listed as reading the actual core temperature in other marketing pieces and it is simply not the case.  Please be careful on how the product is represented. 

[Shockwatch Warmmark 2 Blood bag temp. indicator]

Keep in mind the that the Safe-T-Vue has a 510K with the FDA. This is a very important factor when deciding which indicator to use.