As stated in the Agreement , the Transfusion Facility furnishes specific storage units, restricted to storage of blood and other biologicals, capable of maintaining required storage temperatures as specified in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Standards of the AABB and BSI policies and procedures.
Storage units must be equipped with a continuous temperature monitoring system that records temperatures at least once every four hours and an alarm that sounds if temperature limits are reached. The facility verifies continuous blood storage temperature of the storage units and maintains such documentation. The facility notifies Blood Centers of the Pacific of any temperature deficiencies in the storage of blood and blood components within 24 hours of the occurrence and agrees not to return units subjected to temperatures outside the required ranges unless approved for return by BCP. Documentation of storage temperatures may be required during inspections by regulatory agencies, and the facility agrees to provide records to BCP upon request.
Requirements for blood storage units are:
| Component | Storage Temperature |
|---|---|
| Whole Blood, Red Blood Cells | 1-6C |
| Plasma, Cryoprecipitated AHF | -18C or colder |
| Platelets | 20-24C, with gentle agitation |
| Granulocytes | 20-24C, without agitation |
Additional criteria for storage and handling:
In the event of a storage unit failure, components must be moved to appropriate alternative storage. If alternative storage is not available with a temperature monitoring system, temperatures must be manually checked and recorded a minimum of every 4 hours. Alternative storage may be temporary storage of components in BCP shipping containers. Contact Hospital Services to discuss alternative storage at BCP or using BCP shipping containers.