03 Nov “A Quantitative Approach to Clinical Sample Temperature Stability While in Transit”
Tricore Clinical Labs of Albuquerque, NM, presented the results of a recent study to the 11th annual Lab Quality Confab conference in New Orleans, LA on October 24th, 2017.
The experimental study, entitled “A Quantitative Approach to Clinical Sample Temperature Stability While in Transit”, was conducted to determine whether current Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) are effective in maintaining proper temperatures in totes designated for room, refrigerated, and frozen temperatures during transport to the laboratory.
The baseline measurements established during the initial phase of the study, showed that refrigerated totes where not maintained at proper temperature using their existing SOP’s.
For the study, one typical courier route was chosen and Lab Sensor Solutions’ T-Tracks™ temperature and location tracking system was installed in the three respective dummy totes. Colored saline, in test tubes, was used to simulate blood samples and were placed into the totes. A sensor was place in the courier vehicle to measure the ambient temperature in the cargo area of the vehicle. Additionally, location sensors were used to validate locations stops by the courier as well as the time spent at each location.
The results showed that by adapting new SOP’s that used the real time temperature monitoring provided by the LSS’ T-Tracks™ solution, the courier was able to consistently maintain proper temperature in the refrigerated tote.
The whitepaper of the complete study can be downloaded here