bloodbanker01 Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Does anyone know if it is a requirement to use refrigerator and freezer chart recorders? We currently have Temptrak monitoring system, record the temperatures on both the bottom and top shelves, and have a temperature display. So is it really necessary to use the chart recorder also? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khalidm3 Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 AABB Standard 5.1.8.1.2 For storage of blood products, the temperature shall be continuously monitored or the temperature shall be recorded at least every 4 hours.If u have a central monitoring, recording and some one viewing it, Chart may be not required. If monitoring and recording is individual ref to ref; daily once temperature should be recorded on a temperature chart. It is required by our accreditation agency. How AABB/CAP explains it, I want to know also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adiescast Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 If you have a central monitoring system regularly logging the temperature, you are not required to have a chart recorder also. You do need to have a back up plan in case your central monitoring system is down. We plan to keep our charts because then no one has to remember to take 4 hour temperatures or run put a chart on equipment when the central system is down. On the other hand, the system is not down often, so you may prefer to avoid the expense of the charts and risk the staff forgetting the temperatures on the rare down occasions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbostock Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 If you are downloading your Temptrak data and can show inspectors that they are being continuously monitored, you're all set. As adiescast stated, you then need to decide which will be your backup: manual temps every 4 hours, or charts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda K Hutson Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I am not familiar with Temptrak but if it is a continuous monitoring system (with documentation of course), you do not need charts. Brenda Hutson, CLS(ASCP)SBBDoes anyone know if it is a requirement to use refrigerator and freezer chart recorders? We currently have Temptrak monitoring system, record the temperatures on both the bottom and top shelves, and have a temperature display. So is it really necessary to use the chart recorder also? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirkaw Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 Can anyone tell me if it is required by FDA/AABB/JCAHO to record the temperature reading from a chart on your refrigeration units daily? Or is it sufficient to keep the tracing?Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tricore Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Can anyone tell me if it is required by FDA/AABB/JCAHO to record the temperature reading from a chart on your refrigeration units daily? Or is it sufficient to keep the tracing? Thanks If the techs have to record it, they have to look at it and hopefully notice problems. I have found the following (even though someone had looked at them previous to me finding the problem): Charts that are not turning because the person who replaced it did not tighten it. Charts for freezers on refrigerators and the reverse. Charts that were left on the refrigerator for more than a week and were rerecording. Pens that have been moved out of alignment and were recording the wrong temperature. Likewine99 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMILLER Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Can anyone tell me if it is required by FDA/AABB/JCAHO to record the temperature reading from a chart on your refrigeration units daily? Or is it sufficient to keep the tracing?ThanksNot sure about the regs, but I believe the intent is to be able to show that a certified thermometer is used at least every 4 hours to check temps. Once a day, we record the chart and alarm monitoring temps to show that they match the thermometers. All device temps recorded on the temp log for that day--pretty sure this is a common method. In this way you can use the charts (or whatever monitoring system records) as proof that the refrigerator temps were Ok, since the operation of the sensors for those recording and alarm temps are comparable to the thermometers in the frig or freezer. Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likewine99 Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 tricore I have see the same things as you and I'm a fan of actually recording the temp. The monitored system sounds wonderful and I agree with other posters, as long as you can produce the info at inspection time and your SOP reflects the process you should be good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbostock Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 We keep charts on as a backup in case our TempSys system fails. I have them check the function of the chart recorders daily and log the temp. Seems like overkill to me, but we only do it for the reasons that tricore mentions above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aafrin Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 We also have a continuous monitoring system, but our techs. record the temp. manually every shift (8 hourly) too. We discontinued the chart recorders years back for reasons Tricore has mentioned above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tricore Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Just curious. Have any of you had your continuous monitoring system fail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R1R2 Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Just curious. Have any of you had your continuous monitoring system fail? Yes, the system was recording temp but not notifiying the lab of an alarm situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aafrin Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Yes. Once it's alarm system went haywire & it continued to wail for around a week at odd hours. sms were also sent to registered mobile numbers wrongly. The problem was in the software connected to alarm. The temp. recorder was working fine, nor any problem with printing logs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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