Room Temperature Monitoring and Action Plans

Hi Anastasia,

    We have min/max thermometers at our off site locations and provide them with a temp log. If the temps go out of range they are to move any reagents in that area to another area with correct temp, adjust the thermostat (if one is available) and recheck the temp in 2 hours. If the temp is not back within range they are to notify the people in charge of the building maintenance to come and fix it. If it happened when they weren't there, they are to run QC on the reagents affected before using on a patient. This needs documented in the corrective action column.

I have step by step instructions in the footer of the log sheet complete with the phone number of the maintenance group for that building. Sad to say that they still miss the documentation part from time to time but they are getting better. If it is a big issue they usually call me.

Hope this helps.

Lois Snider

lois.snider@stclair.org

Thanks Lois!

One question I have is do you run QC on the POCT whenever it's discovered or only when it's discovered and no one was there (when they came in the morning ect).

Thanks,

Anastasia

If it happened while they were working during the day they would immediately move the reagents hopefully before any damage was done. They would take steps to resolve the issue as quickly as possible but should run QC before using on a patient to make sure it wasn't affected.

If they discover the temp went out during the night they should run QC immediately to check the reagents and determine if it can be used on a patient or if they need to order new from the main lab.... then investigate what happened.

In any case it would need documented and the thermometer should be reset so if it goes out again you know that it is a new occurrence and not the original one. I've had that happen too.  :)  They document the out of range temp for days before someone resets it. Always a work in progress.

Lois