Mary** Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 After our only plasma thawer failed yesterday and was out of order for the whole day, I think I need to consider purchasing a back up. Does anyone have a suggestion about one that is not too expensive and has a small profile?Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 We have 2 Helmer 8 plasma thawers. Kind of spendy, but reliable. They also make 4 and 2 "slot" thawers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajf1007 Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 On no! What brand Plasma Thawer do you have? Do you mind sharing what failed? Have you looked at the Cardinal Health Plasma Thawer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BANKTECH Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 We also have Helmers. They seem to be reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Saikin Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Love my Helmer 4 slot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgoertzen Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 We also have a Helmer 8 slot and like it a lot. But... have you seen the new Genesis (Barkey) "Plasmatherm"? It looks to have a small footprint, thaws 4 units at a time, and the quote I received from Genesis is less than the new Helmer waterbath I was planning on buying. I just wish the product brochure gave estimated thaw times, because that is an important factor to consider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josephine Merka Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Was it expensive David. I read that some are using Microwave kind of Thawer. How are they compared to the regular one, comparing about cost and efficiency.Thanks..jem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary** Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 It was the wiring on our Helmer 8. It is 4 years old. We have had 2 and have never had a problem. Fortunately, we didn't have any requests that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 My microwave quote was about $12,000, only does 2 at a time, and can't do any unit under 140 ml (i.e. no cryo), but dang, they're fast!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary** Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 I can't find the Cardinal thawer? Do you have a catalog number? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danpalmer Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 We also have a Helmer 8 slot and like it a lot. But... have you seen the new Genesis (Barkey) "Plasmatherm"? It looks to have a small footprint, thaws 4 units at a time, and the quote I received from Genesis is less than the new Helmer waterbath I was planning on buying. I just wish the product brochure gave estimated thaw times, because that is an important factor to consider.We trialled one of the Barkey's at our lab in the UK (supplied via Labcold in the UK). Not only was it the smallest footprint available that I could find on the UK market but it also did a very good job. Price wise it was comparible to most competitors and we were thawing 4 bags of UK size plasma (approx 230 mls per bag) in 18 minutes. We had no leakages during our trial and we were not dissapointed in the kit. I am looking to replace my thermogenesis plasma thawer which is 10 years old and the Barkey will be right up there for consideration.Hope this helpsDan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary** Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 I looked at the brochures for Barkey and Helmer and they both look good. My director thinks that they are pricey for a back up but I not found any cheaper.Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 We use both of our Helmers at the same time....so neither one is designated "back up". If one were to go down, the other is already up and ready to go. The peace of mind of having an extra thawer is worth the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Needs ☆ Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 If one were to go down, the other is already up and ready to go. The peace of mind of having an extra thawer is worth the price.Agree, but tell that to the bean counters in the suits!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Agree, but tell that to the bean counters in the suits!!!!!!!!!!!!!Ha Ha, so true. Luckily we have some folks at the top right now that seem to understand the importance of good equipment in the blood bank. We finally have equipment that isn't constantly needing repairs and tweaks. It only took me 5 years to convince them that I needed a platelet incubator, once I got that, they started upgrading a little every year. Hope I didn't just jinx myself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMcCord Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 We just went 2 1/2 years without a cell washer. Hope that drought is over and I can start replacing some elderly equipment before it starts causing lots of problems (plasma thawer, platelet incubator, plasma freezer - don't want much do I?! ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajf1007 Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I can't find the Cardinal thawer? Do you have a catalog number?Hi Mary! The catalog number for the Cardinal thawer is CH-PT1000. This is the link to their laboratory products page. http://ecom.cardinalhealth.com/catalog/labpartner/index.htmlWhen you click on the link, click on the search magnifying glass and type in plasma thawer. It will come up in the catalog and when you click it, it will get bigger so you can read the specs. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabel Adams Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 We have had a Helmer thawer for about 10 years and the buttons are about worn off. What life span is anyone else getting out of their Helmers? I need an idea of when I should replace them vs. repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 First do not replace; repair and keep the old one as the backup once the new one comes in. Or as said above use them in parallel so both are QC'd and ready. Or if you are super lucky to get 2 new ones then keep the old one in its best shape and as a backup. Only let it go when it dies and the Medical Engineers declares it dead or says that the manufacturer stopped making spare parts or that the spare part is more expensive than a NEW thawer. Other than that I would like to ask David where you got the microwave from. They used to be from Canada at 25,000$ the last time I checked. I have one for my next fiscal plan, your info is greatly appreciated as well as any advice you have.Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 www.plasmathaw.com/aboutus.html Tropitronics, Inc. is the United States distributor for the Microwave Plasma Defroster manufactured by Ark Bio-Medical Canada Corporation. Tropitronics, IncWe didn't buy one, we're just wishing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 (edited) Thanks for all the useful answers, looking too to replace or backup the thawers Edited December 1, 2012 by Liz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbostock Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 We have both the Helmer thawer (for 4 units) and a microwave thawer.The microwave is our primary thawer for plasma and thaws in about 5-6 minutes, the Helmer water bath is used as the primary thawer for cryo and as a backup for plasma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 We have both the Helmer thawer (for 4 units) and a microwave thawer.The microwave is our primary thawer for plasma and thaws in about 5-6 minutes, the Helmer water bath is used as the primary thawer for cryo and as a backup for plasma.WOW!!!!! Can you tell me the brand and was it (the microwave) in the 25,000$ or 15,000$ range.How long does the Helmer take to thaw 4 units?and the big one to thaw 8 unit one? anyone?Thanks Terri, I am getting more and more encouraged.It is on our next fiscal year budget...but hehehe I budgeted it 25,000$Is it the Canadian Ark?Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbostock Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 WOW!!!!! Can you tell me the brand and was it (the microwave) in the 25,000$ or 15,000$ range.How long does the Helmer take to thaw 4 units?and the big one to thaw 8 unit one? anyone?Thanks Terri, I am getting more and more encouraged.It is on our next fiscal year budget...but hehehe I budgeted it 25,000$Is it the Canadian Ark?Thank youIt's made by ArkBiomedical, distributed by Tropitronics. Here's the website. A couple years ago when we bought it, it was somewhere around $12,000. And I do believe they also sell refurbished ones for a little cheaper.http://www.plasmathaw.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisH Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Our Helmer went down for the day because one of the arms needed to be replaced. So we went through the whole lab to see if there was a backup waterbath we could use. Found one down in the morgue got it up and running and it kept a steady 37C temp. It is now out backup. I got some brownie points saving the lab a few thousand dollars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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