QAP Cold chain - alarm testing

Alarm testing of Blood Bank equipment
To include fridges, freezers, platelet incubators and FFP/cryoprecipitate thawers

Blood Bank

Issue Room

Any person within the Blood Transfusion Department

• Biomedical Scientists
• Medical Laboratory Assistants

Standard Operating Procedure for alarm testing, is it-

• Comprehensible and specific
• Appropriately authorised by designated personnel
• Regularly reviewed
• Linked to COSHH and Risk Assessments
• Complete list of equipment for alarm testing
• Official copy of document

1. Training records and competency assessments/competency of trainers
2. Document control
3. Cold chain validation of laboratory equipment
4. Appropriate SOPs
5. Fridge/freezer/incubator calibration and service records
6. Evidence of regular maintenance of equipment
7. Evidence of temperature monitoring and appropriate documentation (? Temperature mapped equipment or calibrated probes – traceable to national standards)

1. Observation
2. Questions
3. Knowledge assessment
4. Objective evidence

1. General housekeeping of the area
2. Details of whom to contact in case of breakdown/alarm failure readily available
3. Procedure for the event of major power failure – transfer of blood products to additional storage facilities and the subsequent validation process
4. Documentation of equipment failure and action taken