The objectives of this study were to: (a) examine the overall operating conditions of both government-dominant and non-governmental food bank programs, (b) understand the operational management attributes on the target based on IPA (importance performance analysis)(c) analyze the present status of donating management, and (d) suggest a direction based on the analysis of advantages and disadvantages of food banks in each part. The random samples of 120 food bank operators were selected by a proportionate stratified random sampling method. A total of 60 government-dominant food banks and 25 non-governmental food banks were analyzed. The main results of this study were as follows: According to the Importance-Performance Analysis of operational management, "assistance for operating funds" and "deployment of experience staff" were placed at "Focus Here". There was a great shortage of experienced staff with food bank-specific knowledge. The average number of the government-dominant and non-governmental food bank program employees was 0.29 and 0.30 respectively, while the ratios of employees with other jobs were 0.96 and 0.83 respectively. Shortages of refrigeration facilities were an area that needs to be addressed. While 51.6% of donated food required cold storage, only 45% of government-dominant and 60% of non-governmental food bank programs had refrigeration facilities. Most of food bank operators (96.3%) were required to visit the donators' locations to pick up the donated foods. And the foods were distributed to the people in need, especially to the livelihood protectee.
Refrigeration

BACKGROUND: There have been many reports about the decrease in uric acid concentration in refrigerated urine specimens as compared to fresh urine. In an effort to correct this problem, pre-treatment steps such as the pre-alkalinization of sample tubes or the pre-dilution of urine were recommended before the refrigeration. The authors sought to find a way to correct the decreased measurement of uric acid concentrations in the refrigerated urine samples. METHODS: The uric acid concentrations of 53 fresh urine samples were measured and all were refrigerated. After 24 hours of refrigeration, the samples were measured for their uric acid concentrations (the refrigerated samples). All samples were then mixed well with 1 M NaOH 20 microL/mL (the refrigerated-alkalinized samples) and they were again measured for their uric acid concentrations. The differences of uric acid concentrations between the fresh urine samples and the refrigerated samples and also between the fresh urine samples and the refrigerated-alkalinized samples were noted. RESULTS: In a precipitated group of 14 urine samples, the compared results between the fresh urine and the refrigerated urine showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the fresh urine and the refrigerated-alkalinized urine (P=0.49). In a non-precipitated group, there were no significant differences between the fresh urine and the refrigerated urine, or between the fresh urine and the refrigerated-alkalinized urine (P=0.47, P=0.18). CONCLUSIONS: For 24 hour refrigerated urine samples, the addition of 1 M NaOH 20 microL/mL to the urine samples after refrigeration was recommended for accurate measurement of uric acid concentration.
Refrigeration ; Uric Acid*

This article introduces a design of a medical folding fridge, which consists of three major components, base, folding frame and insulated cover. The base has a cooling system. The frame and cover are expanded during normal use and folded during storage or transportation. The device is compact, durable, transportable and well environmental adaptable. The system design is proved proper and the temperature inside is reliable. It is very suitable for temperature sensitive supplies stored in the medical emergency field.
Emergency Medicine ; instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Refrigeration ; instrumentation

The cold chain safety of vaccines is a global issue. The electronic vaccine vial monitor (eVVM) label can monitor the temperature of vaccines in real time and provide "early warning" prompts. In order to comprehensively evaluate the monitoring efficiency of eVVM, this study selected 75 eVVM labels and distributed them with a total of 600 vaccine vial monitor (VVM) labels of four different types in different experimental environment (2-8℃, -20℃ and 40℃), and used a temperature recorder as "gold standard". The results showed that the accuracy of the eVVM labels and VVM labels in high temperature environment was as same as that of the temperature recorder (
Drug Storage ; Electronics ; Refrigeration ; Temperature ; Vaccines

OBJECTIVE: HLA-B27 test require at least 80% of viable cells. So the procedures require immediate processing of the blood samples. To increase the efficiency and the cost-effectiveness of the laboratory, longer maintenance of cell viability is requested. For this purpose, we compared the cell viability of blood samples collected in heparin tubes with those collected in ACD tubes. Our aim was to determine whether the length of storage that could maintain adequate cell viability for HLA-B27 testing depends on the anticoagulants in the storage tube and to ascertain the qualified HLA-B27 results after several days of storage. METHODS: We collected 15 blood samples in ACD and heparin tubes. The samples were stored at 4oC for 6 days and after which, 2 mL of the sample was used to confirm the viability of lymphocytes every 24 hours for 5 days. For evaluating the reproducibility, the HLA-B27 test was performed at the day of sampling and after 6 days of refrigeration. RESULTS: There was no difference in cell viability between ACD and heparin until the sixth day, but a statistically difference was observed from the seventh day (p=0.004). The HLA-B27 test showed no different results even after 6 days of storage. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the heparin tubes have a same storage benefit as the ACD tubes of blood for HLA-B27 testing for less than a week. This can affect more economic and efficient laboratory management for HLA-B27 testing.
Anticoagulants* ; Cell Survival* ; Heparin ; HLA-B27 Antigen* ; Lymphocytes ; Refrigeration

PURPOSE: To determine the viability of human chondrocytes within refrigerated articular cartilage stored under conditions currently used clinically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Osteochondral sections of human ankle taluses were stored at 4 degrees C in DMEM media for 1 to 42 days. Articular cartilage was harvested and evaluated for histologic changes and proteoglycan synthesis. RESULTS: By day 7, markedly decreased proteoglycan synthesis was observed. After 21 days, synthetic activity was virtually undetectable. Histologic specimens demonstrated chondrocyte death of a half of the cells from the superficial layer at day 7. Within 21 days, significant chondrocyte death was seen. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that proteoglycan synthetic activity and chondrocyte viability are markedly decreased in articular cartilage after cold storage for longer than 7 days.
Ankle ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Chondrocytes ; Humans* ; Proteoglycans ; Refrigeration ; Talus

BACKGROUND: In recent years, lymphocyte subset analysis in peripheral blood is widely performed using erythrocytes-lysed whole blood and two color immunofluorescence/flow cytometry method. Use of fresh blood drawn within 6 hours of staining is recommended, and some patients have to revisit the hospital for blood collection. We tested whether 24 hours-refrigerated/stored whose blood can be used for lymphocyte subset analysis. METHODS: Twenty consecutive blood samples from patients (including nine HIV positive patients) collected in EDTA-vacutainer were tested: 1) on the day of sampling using fresh blood kept at room temperature for up to 6 hours until staining (as recommended by the manufacturer) and 2) on the following day using the same tube of blood refrigerated for 24 hours after the first staining. Two colon immunofluorescenc staining was done using Simultest(TM) IMK-Lymphocyte kit (Beckon Dickinson, U.S.A.) and flow cytometric analysis was performed using FACScan and SimulSET(TM) software (Becton Dickinson, U.S.A.). Results of alive kinds of Lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CDl9+, CD3+CD4+CD3+CD8+, CD3-CDl6+ and/or CD56+) on day 1 and day 2 were compared by pained-t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: There was no significant change of values for all of the lymphocyte subsets except CD3+CD8+suppressor/cytotoxic (S/C) T cells. There was a slight but statistically significant change in S/C T cells (39.9%-->41.8%: 1.9%, p=0.008) after 24 hours of refrigeration, and this change was observed mainly in HIV-positive patient group. However, there was no significant change in the absolute count of helper/inducer T cells or CD4/CD8 ratio, and the change of S/C T cells in these patients was not considered to be of clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The difference in the values of lymphocyte subsets between fresh blood and 24 hours-refrigerated blood was negligible and it is concluded that 24 hours-stored blood samples can be used for lymphocyte subset analysis for clinical purposes.
Colon ; HIV ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Subsets* ; Lymphocytes* ; Refrigeration ; T-Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: Generation of perfluorocarbon-exposed sonicated dextrose albumin (PESDA), the custom-made contrast agent, is performed under certain conditions that have been proposed by its original developer. We doubted whether the known composition and manufacturing method of PESDA is ideal and if there is an optimal method of storing batches of PESDA for a significant time duration. METHODS: PESDA was generated with several different composition of ingredients (5% human serum albumin, 5% dextrose water, and perfluorocarbon (PFC) gas), where various ratios of each were used. Sonication was performed for various durations. After manufacturing, the mean size and concentration of the microbubbles were evaluated by hemocytometer and compared. The generated PESDA was stored for 48 hours under 4 degrees C or -20 degrees C and changes in size and concentration of microbubbles were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: The best concentration of microbubbles was found with a mix ratio of albumin: PFC: dextrose of 1:1:1 and sonication time of 90 sec. The microbubble concentration of the optimal PESDA was not different to that of the conventionally manufactured one (9.47+/-1.70 x 10(8) /mL vs. 8.34+/-0.87 x 10(8) /mL, p>0.05) but the mean microbubble size was significantly smaller (1.22+/-0.31 um vs. 1.66+/-0.32 um, p<0.01). After 48 hours, the concentration of microbubbles was reduced by 34+/-3% (p=NS) and 55+/-0.2% (p<0.05) and the size increased by 77+/-25% and 108+/-41% (p=NS in both) in the 4 degrees C -stored and -20 degrees C -stored PESDA, respectively. CONCLUSION: The optimal composition of PESDA ingredients is 1:1:1 for albumin, PFC, and dextrose water, and the best duration of sonication is 90 seconds. Refrigeration under 4 degrees C may be the best way for storage of PESDA for 48 hours.
Echocardiography ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Microbubbles ; Refrigeration ; Serum Albumin ; Sonication ; Water

Background: In 24 years, Expanded Programe on Immunization\r\n', u'(EPI) at Thua Thien Hue province achieve high efficiency, reduce remarkably infection rate of children disease in EPI. Objectives: Assessment of instruments and cold chain at City, District Health Center and Commune Health station. Assessment of knowledge and practice EPI of medical officers in districts and communes. Subjects and method: Instrument, cold chain system and officers at City, District Health Center and Commune Health station. Method: Cross-section descriptive study; Observe instruments and cold chain at Health stations and fill in available forms. Interview medical officers, observe practical manipulation and fill in available forms. Results: The rate of good knowledge varied from 61,64% to 94,55% and the rate of appropriate practice was from 45,70% to 80,92%. On average, each commune health station had 0,421 refrigeration; 0,128 ice cabinet; 0,258 cold box; 2,259 thermoses; 6,623 ice packs; 2,826 thermometers and11,321 safe boxes. All commune health stations have vaccine containing thermos; one station has no thermometer; two have no safe box and five have no ice pack. Conclusion: All commune health stations have essential instruments, cold chain. Very few health station lack of one or some types. Medical officers almost have basic knowledge about expandedimmunization, the rate of answering right theoretical questions from 61,64% to 94,55%. Practical manipulation had still many errors, rate of manipulation right only 45,70% to 80,92%. District officers manipulated right higher than commune officers.\r\n', u'
Refrigeration/ instrumentation ; Vaccination/ instrumentation ; mortality ; methods ; Health Knowledge ; Attitudes ; Practice ;

This paper gives a brief introduction on common troubleshooting of fridge used in medicine and the corrective way of maintenance.
Equipment and Supplies, Hospital ; Humans ; Maintenance ; methods ; Refrigeration ; instrumentation