Storing ffp

[VATB00]

What's the requirement for storing ffp?

Would it be possible just using regular freezer and and temp is CHECK once a day.

Edited December 27, 2008 by VATB00

[Lcsmrz]

Plasma storage requires -18 C or lower -- difficult (but not impossible) conditions to maintain in a regular freezer. A regular freezer is designed for about -5 C and has to work pretty hard to keep it cooler than that. I've seen -20 C maintained in regular freezers before, but they get above -18 C with each defrost cycle.

It also has to have an alarm and some type of continuous temp monitoring system, such as a chart or electronic system. Most sites also have an liquid-in-glass thermometer inside that is checked once a day against the temp monitor.

[SMW]

Just for clarification, "AABB 5.1.8.1.2: For storage of blood products, the temperature shall be continuously monitored and the temperature shall be recorded at least every 4 hours." So if you only have an electornic system to alarm when temperature goes above -18C, you would need to record the temperature every 4 hours, i.e., once a day would not be acceptable. If you have a continous recording device, e.g., a temperature chart recorder that is periodically tested, then checking/recording an internal thermometer reading against the chart recorder reading once a day would be acceptable since your continous recording is your temperature record.