Real-Time Monitoring

When you think about Halloween, you might think about candy, and kids dressing up, but have you also given some thought about your blood supply? Vampires do. Well, it seemed like a great opportunity to cater to our vampire clients and talk about blood safety and compliance in the blood supply chain. The ’30-minute rule’ typically mandated by regulatory agencies requires discarding red blood cells (RBCs) exposed to uncontrolled temperatures for more than 30 minutes to ensure safe RBC transfusion.

Why? What happens to red blood cells without proper temperature controls? To begin with, bacterial contamination is caused by increases in the metabolic processes that can cause damage to RBCs by preventing the release of cytokines and chemokines that may cause immunomodulation, a modification of the immune response or the functioning of the immune system. Exposed also shorten their shelf life and also decreases the oxygen carrying capacity of RBCs. Even five 30-min temperature exposures can induce significant bacterial growth by a psychrophilic strain.

Financial Costs of Blood Contamination

Failure to undertake blood bank temperature monitoring could not only cause serious health risks but also significant costs to your company. Data from a 2009 survey of Ontario and Quebec blood banks by the Canadian Blood Service found that of the 240 hospitals surveyed, 842 discarded units of blood cost the hospitals $294,000.

So what you do to help reduce financial loss and increase safety?

Infitrak, Inc. today announced it has been certified as ISO 9001:2008 compliant following a comprehensive audit of the company’s quality management.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is the foremost creator of voluntary standards that ensure the quality, safety and reliability of products and services that are produced or provided throughout the world. ISO 9001:2008, which was released in 2008, sets a stringent standard for the quality management system of companies operating in more than 175 countries.

To receive ISO 9001:2008 certification, Infitrak, Inc. demonstrated that its quality management system met particular requirements that include:

Exercising quality procedures that address all key business processes

Putting into operation preventive action when needed

Monitoring business processes to confirm that each one is effectual in producing consistent, planned-for results

Creating and maintaining required quality management records

Identifying issues with output and implementing corrective action to resolve issues when needed

Confirming the effectiveness of individual processes and the quality management system on an ongoing basis

Committing effort to persistent process improvement

“Achieving ISO 9001:2008 certification is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team members,” said Jean Bédard, president of Infitrak, Inc. “Attaining certification speaks to our continuous effort to increase internal process disciplines, provide first-class products and customer service, and make Infitrak products remain synonymous with quality.”

The ISO certification of Infitrak, Inc. assures customers that they are doing business with a company that designs, manufactures and provides post-sales support for shipping, handling and monitoring products in ways that meet or exceed customer needs and statutory requirements, as well as a company committed to total quality improvement. Infitrak, Inc. certification as an ISO 9001:2008 compliant company benefits its customers in a number of ways, including:

Enhanced customer satisfaction through the effective use of company resources and a focus on customer needs

Products that consistently meet or exceed customer needs and expectations due to an intense customer focus and the linkage between Infitrak objectives and customer needs

On-time delivery of high-quality products and exemplary services with few, if any, deficiencies

Manufacturing operations that expose products to continuous assessment and improvement that results in few returned products or customer complaints

Reduced product and service costs due to continuously evaluated and aligned business processes designed to meet the requirements of customers and other interested parties

When it comes to packaging for the cold chain, two important questions to consider are whether the packaging will hold its temperature and if it is durable enough to handle rough handling and multiple uses. Temperature stability and hold times are expected functions of any packaging system. And, today’s EPS based platforms do the trick. How many companies differ is in the pack out configuration of these systems (ie refrigerants, wall thickness, weight, cost, sizes, etc).

Traditional systems use an EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) foam

EPS, also known as Styrofoam, is one of the foam materials used to create a cold zone into which heat from the outside enters at a very slow rate. Consisting primarily of air bubbles, EPS has good insulating properties because it slows the progress of heat through the material. It also is one of the foams most resistant to moisture absorption. EPS absorbs energy and can be manufactured in nearly unlimited shapes and sizes. Another reason EPS is good for cold storage applications is that it is resistant to virtually all water-like substances including dilute acids and alkalis, as well as water-soluble alcohols and silicones.

How to increase system durability without adding weight or cost

Durability comes into play when you are looking to maximize the investment in your packaging to include systems that are reusable multiple times. Rather than a single-use EPS container, this is where other companies have turned to plastic shells or corrugate boxes. Mesa Labs, formerly Infitrak, however, has focused on another method.

By combining EPS with EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) foam you get the best of both worlds

While EPS has good insulating properties, it is not very durable. EPP, on the other hand, is a lightweight foam with excellent energy absorption characteristics. The material can withstand repeated shocks and deformations, earning high marks for usability. Foams molded from EPP also retain their high degree of dimensional stability when exposed to temperature extremes. The elasticity of EPP is very appropriate for packaging valuable and vulnerable products such as glass vials, organs or syringes.

The TempTrust Extreme gives you the best of both: Durability and Cost Effectiveness

After 10 years of analyzing standard transportation modes in North America and documenting thousands of data points across all major origins and destinations, Mesa Labs developed the TempTrust™ Extremepackaging. It uses a combination of EPS and EPP foam. We call it “Extreme” due to its ability to hold temperatures during the extremes of transit and storage.

The TempTrust Extreme line is the first platform to combine EPP and EPS material to create a packaging solution unlike any other.  EPS provides the insulation while EPP provides the durability:

Bounce-Back Technology™ – Patented EPP memory material bounces back from dents and dings

Exceeds Regulations – 120, up to 200 hours, multiple seasonal and temperature profiles

Ultra-lightweight – Easily one of the lightest packaging solutions on the market today

Recyclable – Recyclable outer shell can be shredded and remolded

Reusable – Qualified for multiple openings and maximum use

Black Color – Resistant to dirt and grime and more attractive after repeated reuse

When it comes to packaging for the cold chain, two important questions to consider are whether the packaging will hold its temperature and if it is durable enough to handle rough handling and multiple uses. Temperature stability and hold times are expected functions of any packaging system. And, today’s EPS based platforms do the trick. How many companies differ is in the pack out configuration of these systems (ie refrigerants, wall thickness, weight, cost, sizes, etc).

Traditional systems use an EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) foam

EPS, also known as Styrofoam, is one of the foam materials used to create a cold zone into which heat from the outside enters at a very slow rate. Consisting primarily of air bubbles, EPS has good insulating properties because it slows the progress of heat through the material. It also is one of the foams most resistant to moisture absorption. EPS absorbs energy and can be manufactured in nearly unlimited shapes and sizes. Another reason EPS is good for cold storage applications is that it is resistant to virtually all water-like substances including dilute acids and alkalis, as well as water-soluble alcohols and silicones.

How to increase system durability without adding weight or cost

Durability comes into play when you are looking to maximize the investment in your packaging to include systems that are reusable multiple times. Rather than a single-use EPS container, this is where other companies have turned to plastic shells or corrugate boxes. Mesa Labs, formerly Infitrak, however, has focused on another method.

By combining EPS with EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) foam you get the best of both worlds

While EPS has good insulating properties, it is not very durable. EPP, on the other hand, is a lightweight foam with excellent energy absorption characteristics. The material can withstand repeated shocks and deformations, earning high marks for usability. Foams molded from EPP also retain their high degree of dimensional stability when exposed to temperature extremes. The elasticity of EPP is very appropriate for packaging valuable and vulnerable products such as glass vials, organs or syringes.

The TempTrust Extreme gives you the best of both: Durability and Cost Effectiveness

After 10 years of analyzing standard transportation modes in North America and documenting thousands of data points across all major origins and destinations, Mesa Labs developed the TempTrust™ Extremepackaging. It uses a combination of EPS and EPP foam. We call it “Extreme” due to its ability to hold temperatures during the extremes of transit and storage.

The TempTrust Extreme line is the first platform to combine EPP and EPS material to create a packaging solution unlike any other.  EPS provides the insulation while EPP provides the durability:

Bounce-Back Technology™ – Patented EPP memory material bounces back from dents and dings

Exceeds Regulations – 120, up to 200 hours, multiple seasonal and temperature profiles

Ultra-lightweight – Easily one of the lightest packaging solutions on the market today

Recyclable – Recyclable outer shell can be shredded and remolded

Reusable – Qualified for multiple openings and maximum use

Black Color – Resistant to dirt and grime and more attractive after repeated reuse

It is the first passive temperature-controlled solution to reach 168 hours of temperature hold time at 2 to 8 C and 15-25 C for Canadian temperature profiles

Infitrak today introduced the TempTrust™ Extreme, a revolutionary packaging solution designed to hold temperatures far beyond existing regulatory standards.

The complete solution has multiple industry firsts:

It is the first solution to combine expanded polypropylene (EPP) & EPS material to create a product that bounces back from dents and dings, making it ultra-reusable.

It is the first solution to utilize 10 years and thousands of transportation data points to create a packaging solution that surpasses all existing standards

It is the first passive temperature-controlled solution to reach 168 hours of temperature hold time at 2 to 8 C and 15-25 C for Canadian temperature profiles

  The development of the TempTrust™ Extreme line of products is based on more than 10 years of research and analysis of standard transportation modes in North America, documenting thousands of data points across all major origins and destinations. This process enabled the creation of a unique, exclusive packaging portfolio based around real data and compliance standards that have resulted in packaging that exceeds ISTA7E, and other standards

“Engineers have been using Expanded polypropylene (EPP) for years as a replacement for materials such as metals, wood and a variety of other plastics, said Jean Bedard, president of Infitrak, Inc. “However, even though it is eco-friendly, flexible and versatile no one has used it to design temperature controlled packaging.”

Bedard adds, “The use of EPP enabled us to design a solution that was lightweight, energy efficient and could withstand multiple impacts without damage. By using black, rather than standard white, the product is also resistant to dirt and grime, and thus making it more attractive after repeated reuse.”

Other highlights of the TempTrust™ 168 Extreme include:

Scalable for your needs – available in three temperature performance ranges: 2 to 8C, 2 to 25C and 15 to 25C, has 12 standard sizes available, and multiple seasonal profiles.

Bounce-Back Technology™ – Patented EPP memory material bounces back from dents and dings making it ultra-reusable. Reuse is also assured via qualification of the system for multiple openings and maximum use.

Ultra Lightweight – EPP is used in the automotive industry to make vehicles lighter, reducing system mass. TempTrust uses the same material, Easily making it one of the lightest packaging solutions on the market today.

Outer Shell is Completely Recyclable – Manufacturing EPP requires no volatile organic compounds, chlorofluorocarbon or other compounds that are recognized as most damaging to the environment. It can be shredded and remolded and is melt-processable.

  The TempTrust™ Extreme 168 Hour Qualified Packaging System is designed to meet a variety of packaging and transport needs. The line also includes 24, 48, 72, 96, 128, and 144 hour solutions in multiple sizes, temperature ranges and seasonal pack-outs.

Any company storing temperature-sensitive products needs to have a number of ready-made checkpoints in place. This includes maintaining certain environmental conditions throughout the storage, handling and point-to-point delivery process of the entire cold chain. Ultimately, it is about reducing product spoilage, protecting equipment and mitigating the risks associated with the loss of preset temperature and humidity settings.

Temperature mapping is a proactive, real-time solution that provides full reporting of these aforementioned preset conditions. The solution is built around reconciling settings at different way-points so that you are constantly able to provide evidence of the conditions of the products you store, handle and transport. No matter where you are in the cold chain, or what role you fill, maintaining these temperatures is essential.

Appreciating the costs associated with non-compliance of your preset temperature conditions involves reviewing an actual scenario based on an actual customer whose storage practices weren’t up to par. This will give you some idea of the potential costs associated with improperly monitoring temperatures within product storage.

A Customer Case-Study

A large lab in the Northeastern US upgraded their facility and purchased five new 620- cubic foot walk-in freezers at a per-unit cost of $24,000. The install cost for each freezer was $8,000, making the total spent on all five walk-in freezers $160,000. Each of these freezers holds about $100,000 worth of product at any one time. The lab runs 24 hours a day, which means there is plenty of unmonitored time of the freezers.

Laboratory staff was only partially trained on equipment maintenance and wasn’t completely aware of what to look for with respect to possible failures. Additionally, lab personnel did not completely understand the process for storage and handling of material in the freezers.

The lab staff also was unaware the vents on these new freezers were in a different location than on previous units, so newly placed product ended up blocking the ventilation system. This caused a massive drop in temperature, which was well below acceptable levels. The readings were reviewed the next day and it was discovered that $50,000 worth of product was lost and had to be discarded. However, that wasn’t the only cost incurred by the company. The freezer overheated and the resulting damage cost the company an additional $8,000 to fix, leading to a staggering $58,000 loss.

What did all this mean to the company? First, they incurred a substantial cost that could have easily been avoided. Second, they encountered a stock out, couldn’t deliver products to their customers, and had to rush new product into their warehouse, further increasing their costs. Third, they had to spend time filling out the insurance claim, and, as a result of making that claim, they saw an increase in premiums. Finally, they had to implement a corrective action report addressing the cause of the spoilage. This included defining new procedural changes for handling, receiving and storing new product within the freezers.

Infitrak’s cloud-based, real-time temperature mapping and monitoring platform could have saved this company $58,000.

Infitrak’s cloud-based solution is backed by years of experience in temperature mapping, monitoring, control and process management. Infitrak would have qualified the refrigeration unit’s installation, outlined its operating parameters and clearly defined any process-related activities with the company’s staff. All of this is included in a one-time nominal fee.

Competitive and Compliant: Meet your most demanding regulatory requirements without disruption Lab qualified shipping containers for same-day up to long-haul requirements

The Infitrak TempTrust™ line of shippers have been qualified to surpass the latest in NIST standards and can do it with less refrigerant and at a lighter weight. The complete packaging system uses specialized temperature profile data to assure performance and quality. The result is lower risk of exposure and reduced shipping costs.Although the TempTrust line comes in multiple sizes and time durations, lab customers specifically look to our 48 hour packaging system due its blend of flexibility and cost. It is available in three temperature performance ranges: 2°C to 8°C, 2°C to 25°C and 15°C to 25°C with custom profiles available for volume orders.

Real-time monitoring; cost-effective, active risk management