Study of gel and ice packs effects on assembling process of blood and blood product bags in cold boxes using hospital cold blood chain

Assurance of blood and blood components safety depends on storage and transportation in the consistent and controllable temperature. The aim of this study was to access an adaptable type of packaging for safe transportation of blood and blood components and the factors such as number and volume of blood and blood component bags, transport duration and temperature. In this cross sectional study, red blood cells and platelets were separated from whole blood by using some blood bags including bovine whole blood and a centrifuge, in temperature between 20˚C to 42˚C. Then, in order to evaluate integrity of platelets and red blood cells in the allowed temperature, we used 22˚C and 4˚C gel and -20oC ice packs (Sina Ebtekar Equipment Company). The storage statuses in different environments from 2˚C to 42˚C during transportation were statistically evaluated. This study determined that packaging of blood and blood components in cold box varied according to different parameters like type of components, temperature of environment, number of blood component bags, time and distance of transmission. According to the findings of this study, the number of gel packs and time duration in maintaining blood safety is very important and increasing the number of gel packs will add the storage time. Hence, selecting the correct number of gel packs is essential and using extra packs will lead to the out of standard temperature.