Accurate temperature representation of storage conditions of human tissue and blood products: A cold chain analysis

Abstract

There is nothing of higher value than human life. A close second is a human tissue that is utilized to help prolong that human life. Proper storage and management of the environment in which these materials are being stored are critical. A common practice in monitoring cold chain conditions for these temperature-sensitive materials is to employ a physical, thermal buffer into which the temperature probe is inserted. This buffer maybe a bottle of glycol or other liquid, a container of glass beads, an aluminum block, or nearly any other media the user feels is appropriate. The purpose of the buffer is to simulate the stored product’s experience rather than the air temperature. This will not be accomplished if the physical buffer is not matched to the stored product’s thermal properties and its container. Cold chain managers are faced with a complex problem if they attempt to take this issue into account. Furthermore, a match is impossible with a single physical buffer when the cold storage unit contains different products and various container sizes. This paper addresses the results of this mismatch from multiple factors and brings to the forefront the real-world problems that may result. Additionally, this paper will discuss a demonstrated solution that will accurately represent the stored materials, no matter the packaging size, material, or contents.