1. of blood and components
Storage and transportation
of blood and components
Dr Sima Zolfsghari Anaraki MD-ACP
IRANIAN BLOOD TRANSFUSION CENTER

2. Storage and Transportation
Blood & blood products are labile biological
materials which need to be kept under the
right conditions to ensure that they remain
viable, safe and clinically effective
Blood and products need to be transported
under the right condition
to maintain product viability
to ensure product security

3. storage storage conditions need to be appropriate
and correct for each product
temperature
cleanliness
agitation (platelets)
storage needs to be secure to prevent
unauthorized access
to people
to insects / vermin etc
storage needs to be monitored to ensure that the correct conditions are maintained
continuous temperature monitoring
alarm system on all storage equipment

4. Storage Temperature for Blood
And Components
Storage before processing
if unit will be processed for Plt preparation within 8h
storage at o C
if unit will be processed for plasma preparation within 6-8h
storage at o C
Storage after processing
whole blood & red cells C
fresh frozen plasma - 18o C or lower
cryoprecipitate - 18o C or lower
platelet concentrate o C

5. Importance of Safe Storage
Blood must be stored at a temperature
between + 1o c to + 6o c.
to maintain oxygen carrying capacity
to maintain its viability
to minimize growth of any bacterial
contamination
Plasma must be rapidly frozen and stored
at - 18o c or lower
to maintain coagulation factor levels (fVIII, fV)

6.  Proper Storage of Blood Air circulation
Units of the blood should be standing
Upright in baskets laid flat on the shelf 
Never store food items in
blood bank refrigerator
Never store blood in the door of
refrigerator

7. Check for signs of deterioration of blood during storage
Look for Hemolysis in the plasma.
Look for any change in the colour in the Red Cells e.g. Purple/ Black indicate contamination.
Look for any clots.

8. Storage Precautions of Blood
And Components
Blood to be stored at o C
Never allowed to freeze - red cells
FFP stored below - 18o C or lower
Temperature of refrigerators must be
checked twice a day
Door of freezer must be kept closed
If plasma is to be thawed, temperature should
never go above +37o C
If frozen plasma thawed, it should be kept at
o C and used within 24 hours

9. Storage of Untested/quarantined Blood
Label storage area according to status
quarantine (unavailable): products that have
not been tested or have been partially tested.
restrictive access to such products
released (approved): products available for use
rejected (non-confirming): products do not
conform and are awaiting disposal
Ensure that there is no mix up of quarantined
products with tested (approved) products

10. Monitoring and Checking
Monitoring of the cold chain
temperature monitoring
start, during, destination
Monitoring the distribution system
time taken from A to B
integrity of the packaging upon arrival
Labeling
accuracy
clarity
adequacy

11. Monitoring Temperature of Refrigerators
Use of thermometers
early in the morning & at the end of working day
top, middle, bottom shelf
Documentation
thermal charts / manual records
Temperature record
Date Time Shelf Temp Action
I9/12 8am High 4o c none
19/12 2 pm low 10o c to be checked
in 1 hour
19/12 8 pm low 6o c none

12. Transportation Distribution conditions need to be appropriate
for the product
temperature
time taken
Packaging needs to be appropriate
sturdy enough to protect the product
able to maintain the product at correct temp
should have adequate label
(content, handling and storage)

13. The Cold Chain System for storing & transporting blood and
components in as safe a way as possible to
maintain all the functions of the component
Two essential parts of cold chain
people to organize and manage storage
and transportation
equipment to store and transport blood
and plasma safely

14. Maintaining the Cold Chain
The cold chain is central to the storage and
distribution of blood and products
the correct temperature must be maintained
The cold chain runs from donor to the patient
The length of the time that products are not
at the correct storage temp must be defined
Procedures for detail action to be taken in
case of “out of specification” products must
be in place

15. Transportation of Blood and Products
Transport containers must be kept
clean and regularly disinfected
condensation often occurs, the moisture being an ideal place for bacteria to multiply
If sealed ice packs are used, they
must be regularly cleaned and
disinfected
If ice packs are home-made using ice,
the ice must be changed regularly to
prevent growth of contaminants

16. Transportation Distribution needs to be secure
BTS transport or external agency
the product should arrive at its destination in
the time expected
the product has not been damaged in transport
the product has not been interfered with

17. Protecting the Product
Packaging that protects the product from
physical damage
Packaging that maintains the optimum
temperature
Clean packaging to minimize the risk of
microbial contamination
Physical separation of cellular products from
any ice packs used to maintain temperature
Reliable transportation

18. Documentation Documentation is needed to record key
parameters during storage and distribution
temperature at the start, during, destination
product dispatched and actually received
times of dispatch and receipt
destination of product
integrity of the product
integrity of the transport container
allowable “out-of-specification” temp and
duration

19. Temperature Data Loggers
Tempreture .deta loggers is a small device housed
in a fully Weld sealed,crevice free,robust
hygenic plastic tag.
Device uses patented induction technique
for set up & deta down load powered by
an internal battery.
Device can be programmed to log at intervals
from 1 min.upto 255 minutes with a temperature
range of –30°C to + 70°C

20. Temperature Data Loggers
Comprehensive & user friendly
window software.
Device helps in validation of packing
methods used for transportation of
blood/blood components.
Device helps to validate fridges &
freezers used for storage.

21. Reception of Blood / Product
Record the time of arrival
Measure & record the temperature in the
container
Inspect blood or the product for any signs
of hemolysis or contamination
Measure & record the temperature of blood
(sandwich method)

22. Summary Storage and transportation of blood & product
need to be controlled to ensure that the quality
of product is maintained from donor to patient
Storage conditions need to be defined,
implemented and monitored
Distribution conditions are especially important
The cold chain needs to be maintained
Monitoring is essential

23. Red blood cell package

30. Platelet package

31. حمل ونگهداري پلاكت در دماي
24-20 درجه سانتي گراد

38. Plasma

39. Two kind of plasma

47. Every month boxes have to get clean with disinfectant

48. The name of technician who is responsible for cleaning
Every 3 months freezer & refrigerator have to be clean with disinfectant
The name of technician who is responsible for cleaning

49. The name of technician who is responsible for cleaning
Every 3 months freezer have to be clean with disinfectant and defrost
The name of technician who is responsible for cleaning