The temperature of stored blood supplies in blood banks, hospitals and laboratories can be automatically monitored using the Tutela system from Next Controls
By polling temperature sensors in the storage equipment every 30 minutes, the system ensures that immediate warning is given if there is any deviation from permitted temperatures.
Using wireless technology, the readings are automatically transmitted to Tutela's permanently manned 24-hour critical response centre in Farnborough, Hampshire, from where the customer's appropriate personnel will be notified.
Under a new European directive, which came into force in November 2005, the temperature of stored blood products has to be recorded at regular intervals throughout the day.
If performed manually, this is a time consuming task that can be subject to human error.
The Tutela automated system not only provides an instant warning of problems, but also enables staff to concentrate on other priorities.
The temperature records are stored centrally by the Tutela system, and can be accessed by authorised personnel at any time from any location over the internet using a secure browser.
This means that temperature records no longer need to be kept locally, as full historical data can be easily downloaded when required for compliance purposes.
Records can be held for up to 30 years.
The data from the temperature sensors is transmitted over a private GPRS telephone network set up by Next Controls, so no additional airtime agreement or dedicated phone line is required.
The Tutela system is already in operation at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital, where the pathology laboratory's 28 items of refrigerated equipment are being continuously monitored.
Three associated cottage hospitals, which also have critical equipment, are also being fitted with the system.
In addition, the hospital estimates that the new system will save them at least 400 man-hours per month, which means there is a substantial payback.
Another medical establishment that has adopted the Tutela system is the Barts and the London Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry in Whitechapel.
Here the system is monitoring the temperatures of over 140 critical items of refrigeration plant where many years' worth of medical research samples are stored.
The Tutela system is not restricted just to blood banks, but can cover any item of equipment where monitoring of a status, temperature, humidity, PH, pressure or electricity / voltage is required.
Applications include incubators, water baths, clean rooms, liquid storage units, clinical and chemical laboratory equipment, chemical production equipment, and pharmaceutical / manufacturing industries.
Next Controls is currently seeking resellers for the Tutela blood temperature monitoring system.
