Remote temperature monitoring for Blood Bank refrigerators

[HMB]

Hello, my lab plans to implement remote temperature monitoring devices throughout each department. My question pertains to double-door refrigerators: would I need two sensors (a high and a low) or just one sensor in the middle of the refrigerator to be compliant with inspections? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[Mabel Adams]

We put two sensors in our big refrigerators but only test alarms on the top one.  The bottom one just records the temperature.  It would alert us if it got out of range but isn't the one we depend on.

[Bet'naSBB]

former management was a huge proponent of OVERKILL - so we have:

REES system for doors and internal temps (temps are compared weekly to "manual" temps to assure all are within acceptable range)

Document temp of "built in" digital readout daily (High and low alarm checks quarterly)

have separate, digital thermometer probes measuring top and bottom temps, documented daily calibrated annually

AND, last but not least, a global tracker that shows temp and stores info so if there's any question, the logged info can be downloaded and printed. calibrated annually

no one will ever be able to say we weren't tracking our temps! 

[John C. Staley]

20 hours ago, Bet'naSBB said:

former management was a huge proponent of OVERKILL - so we have:

REES system for doors and internal temps (temps are compared weekly to "manual" temps to assure all are within acceptable range)

Document temp of "built in" digital readout daily (High and low alarm checks quarterly)

have separate, digital thermometer probes measuring top and bottom temps, documented daily calibrated annually

AND, last but not least, a global tracker that shows temp and stores info so if there's any question, the logged info can be downloaded and printed. calibrated annually

no one will ever be able to say we weren't tracking our temps! 

WOW!  That's taking the old belt and suspenders about as far as possible!  You are right, no one will ever fault you for not doing enough.

[jshepherd]

We have Helmer fridges/freezers, that will still alarm locally and audibly if the built in temp probes detect something out of range. We also have the Primex temperature monitoring system, and there is one probe per fridge (even the double wides) that resides in the same glycerol bottle as the top temp probe. To my knowledge, the bottom temp probe on the larger fridges is not one that drives alarms, but will alert to being out of range. Inspectors have never questioned this process...... 

[TKA]

We are inspected by the state.  The inspector stated that as long as we have a continuous monitoring system with alarms, we do not need to record the temperatures daily.  Maybe I am just used to doing it like we always do, but it feels weird to do this.  Is there any rule that I am missing about documenting Blood storage devices.  I tried looking up regulations and they are all very vague.  

[Cliff]

14 hours ago, TKA said:

We are inspected by the state.  The inspector stated that as long as we have a continuous monitoring system with alarms, we do not need to record the temperatures daily.  Maybe I am just used to doing it like we always do, but it feels weird to do this.  Is there any rule that I am missing about documenting Blood storage devices.  I tried looking up regulations and they are all very vague.  

In the US, as long as you have a temp recorded every 4 hours you should be fine.

Depending on the system you use, and the testing they do, you may be able to get away from alarm checks also.