Assessment of the Impact of Smart Refrigerators on the Preanalytical Phase to Enhance the Transport and Storage of Blood Samples in Primary Care

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigates the impact of smart refrigerators on the logistics and management of biological samples, emphasizing the critical phases of transport and storage to enhance the pre-analytical quality of blood samples. Efficient sample management is crucial for ensuring diagnostic accuracy. Objective: The primary objective is to evaluate the efficiency of smart refrigerators equipped with cloud technology in optimizing the transport and storage of biological samples. The secondary objective is to assess healthcare personnel's perceptions and satisfaction with these technologies. Method: A longitudinal prospective analysis was conducted to assess both the quantitative incidence of pre-analytical errors and the qualitative perceptions of healthcare personnel regarding these technologies. Samples were collected from six primary care centers within the Elche General Health Department, with one center using smart refrigerators and five using conventional methods. The refrigerators featured GPS, real-time temperature sensors, alert systems for cold chain interruptions, and RFID technology. Training on refrigerator use, systematic data collection on pre-analytical errors, and surveys and semi-structured interviews with healthcare personnel were conducted. Descriptive methods and hypothesis testing, including Z-statistics and logistic regression models, were used for statistical analysis. Results: The analysis revealed a significant decrease in the incidence of coagulated and hemolyzed samples at the center using smart refrigerators. Specifically, the rate of coagulated samples was reduced by 69.39%, while hemolyzed samples decreased by 78.12%. This improvement contrasts with trends observed in centers using conventional practices. A significant 94.62% of the staff reported a positive experience with the smart refrigerators, highlighting high satisfaction and the importance of stricter control in handling and transporting samples to prevent errors. Conclusions: The use of smart refrigerators in the transport and storage of biological samples effectively improves the pre-analytical quality of blood samples, reduces pre-analytical errors, and enhances staff satisfaction. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating advanced technologies in the management of biological samples in primary care settings.

Keywords

• pre-analytical phase
• smart refrigerators
• pre-analytical error
• medical laboratory
• blood preservation