Hi Shaneela



1. We hold a spreadsheet of all device serial numbers for each service element in the asset module of our quality management system QPulse. There are too many devices to assign asset numbers to every one, so the service gets an asset and changes are made to the spreadsheet when devices are removed/replaced etc. Whether this is correct or not may depend on your assessor. Personally I would not be looking at giving docking stations an asset number. Although part of the equipment it is not directly involved in the measurements the device makes.



2. We try and keep all reagents in a controlled environment i.e. a ward fridge or a temperature controlled room if available. However this can prove difficult. We perform regular temperature audits in all patient areas where POCT is used (ward, nursing station and sluice normally). We use an infra red temperature gun which you point at flat surfaces and record the temperature in an audit held on QPulse. This gives some assurance that the consumables are being stored at the right temperature. Also, look at the manufacturer's guidelines for storage. Some test strips can be stored up to 32 degrees Celsius. You could audit the areas where they are stored to see what the 'usual' temperature of the area is. Hardly any of our locations rises above 25 degrees so you could argue the risk is low and does not warrant expensive continuous temperature monitoring.



I hope this helps. We are yet to be assessed under UKAS and are due a CPA visit but haven't heard when.



Regards



Tony Cambridge

Lead Biomedical Scientist



-----Original Message-----

From: ACB Point-of-Care Testing [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Shaneela Perkins

Sent: 14 January 2016 11:25

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: POCT Devices and asset numbers!



Hello everyone,



We are having our CPA/UKAS inspection later this year and I was wondering about POCT devices and the ISO standards. Does anyone have any experience with the following issues:



1.Do we have to  list every POCT device, docking station, meter with separate asset numbers or can we use 1 asset number to cover all BM meters, 1 asset number for all ketone meters etc..?



Also, temperatures and POCT reagents out on the wards - should we be recording temps where staff store their reagent strips etc..? How do the POCT team manage this side of things?



Any help would be greatly appreciated,



Shaneela Perkins

POCT Coordinator, POCT team

Lab Medicine, level 3

Salisbury Foundation Trust Hospital



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