Dear Colleagues
We are all well-versed in monitoring temperatures of fridges, freezers and indeed ambient temperature (and don't we know it when CPA visit!).
A simplistic view is that this is used to identify fridges/freezers that are not maintaining temperature and need replacing/repairing, or if ambient temperatures necessitate air conditioning/heating. In reality, we want to identify potential stability problems for reagents and samples so that we can take appropriate action.
However, does anyone actually have criteria to identify when the contents of a fridge/freezer or reagents kept at 'room temperature' should be discarded because of 'out of range' temperatures? I'm not aware of any guidance, other than recommended storage conditions.
There may also be the problems of fluctuations in temperature due to continual access, different effects on a 2L volume compared with a 100uL volume in a fridge etc etc. Also, what time period is significant?
Your views would be appreciated, although I suspect the term 'pragmatic' may appear.
Kind regards
Ian
Ian Hanning
Consultant Clinical Biochemist
Department of Clinical Biochemistry
Hull Royal Infirmary
Hull HU3 2JZ UK
Tel 01482 607716
Fax 01482 607725
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