We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




System Tracks Location of Blood Bank Coolers in Real Time

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 16 Aug 2011
A tracking system that can significantly aid in the successful conservation of stored blood has been developed especially for hospitals. More...


The technology tracks the location and elapsed time-in-use of the portable coolers that blood banks use to transport blood and blood products to where they are needed throughout the hospital.

This innovative system employs Real-Time Location System (RTLS) technology, and was developed for Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, NC, USA) and launched in August 2010. By tracking the location and elapsed time of coolers and electronically conveying that information to the appropriate personnel, the new system allows staff members to retrieve coolers containing unused blood before their specified time expires, thus greatly reducing the possibility that unused blood may have to be destroyed.

Proprietary RTLS tags are affixed to the exteriors of portable coolers; the tracking system's software displays each cooler's status on a computer monitor. When a cooler's status changes, the system changes the color of that cooler's screen icon and automatically sends an email notice to designated addresses. On the "status board" on the computer monitor, a green icon indicates that a cooler is ready for use. When a full cooler is removed from the blood bank, its icon changes to blue, and its movement is tracked and a timing process is initiated. Fifteen minutes before the cooler reaches its effective time limit, its icon changes to yellow and an email is sent. If a cooler is still out when its effective time expires, the icon turns orange and another message is sent. Fifteen minutes past the cooler's time limit, its icon changes to red, and a final email notice goes out. When the cooler is returned and processed in the blood bank, the system resets its status to "ready for use."

Mary Rose Jones, manager of the blood bank said, "Since adopting the RTLS system last August, the results have been outstanding. We have not lost one cooler in the Medical Center. We also have reduced labor time Blood Bank staff members no longer have to make multiple phone calls in trying to locate coolers and realized considerable dollar savings." Wake Forest Baptist has filed a provisional application for a patent on the tracking system and has formed a company, called Time Temp Trac (Winston-Salem, NC, USA) that will market the system to hospitals and other health care facilities.

Related Links:
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Time Temp Trac


New
Gold Member
Serological Pipets
INTEGRA Serological Pipets
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Gold Member
Cardiovascular Risk Test
Metabolic Syndrome Array I & II
New
ESR Analyzer
TEST1 2.0
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: Pancreas cells (left) showing early stages of malignant cancer in brown and same cells stained blue (right) indicate they are Integrin β3 (ITGB3) positive (Photo courtesy of UC San Diego Health Sciences)

Gene Signature Could Serve as Early Warning System for Aggressive Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal forms of cancer, with early detection remaining a major challenge. Precancerous cells must overcome significant stress and... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The 3D paper-based analytical device has shown high clinical accuracy for adult-onset immunodeficiency (Photo courtesy of National Taiwan University)

Paper-Based Device Accurately Detects Immune Defects in 10 Minutes

Patients with hidden immune defects are especially vulnerable to severe and persistent infections, often due to autoantibodies that block interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), a key molecule in immune defense.... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The groundbreaking salmonella antimicrobial resistance prediction platform has demonstrated 95% accuracy (Photo courtesy of Yujie You et al., DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2025.01.013)

New Platform Leverages AI and Quantum Computing to Predict Salmonella Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella strains are a growing public health concern due to the overuse of antimicrobials and the rise of genetic mutations. Accurate prediction of resistance is crucial for effective... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The Check4 gene-detection platform (Photo courtesy of IdentifySensors)

Electronic Biosensors Used to Detect Pathogens Can Rapidly Detect Cancer Cells

A major challenge in healthcare is the early and affordable detection of serious diseases such as cancer. Early diagnosis remains difficult due to the complexity of identifying specific genetic markers... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.