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Freezers designed to store blood plasma at temperatures at or below -18 degrees Celsius (-0.4 degrees Fahrenheit) for up to a year; the freezer temperature is frequently set at values lower than minimum requirements, such as -30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit); internal shelving is appropriate for storage and easy location of plasma containers (e.g., bags). These freezers are usually made with a corrosion-resistant (i.e., stainless steel) interior, minimizing the risk of adulteration, contamination, and corrosion of contents; forced-air circulation and automatic defrost capability, keeping the temperature in all chambers within preestablished limits; sensors, controls, monitors, chart recorders (week-long recordings are typical), and alarms (over temperature, under temperature, power failure) for dependable long-term (e.g., 12 months for fresh frozen plasma, up to 5 years with a anticoagulant preservative) storage of plasma and red blood cells following blood-storage standards. Plasma freezers frequently include backup electrical power sources for control panel functioning during power failures. They are available in several sizes and configurations (e.g., stand-alone, undercounter).
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