Point-of-care inventory management system and method
A system and method are disclosed for controlling an inventory of point-of-care diagnostic devices. The inventory includes a main inventory and at least one subinventory. Each device has an ambient temperature shelf life. Data associated with the devices is entered, including: the current quantity and predetermined minimum quantity of devices in the main inventory; and the current quantity and predetermined minimum quantity of devices in the subinventory. A first timestamp is associated with each device when the device is transferred from the main inventory to the ambient temperature subinventory. The first timestamp is compared to a second timestamp prior to use of the device to determine whether the device's ambient temperature shelf life is exceeded. The current quantity of devices in the subinventory is updated in response to an event that causes a change in the current quantity of devices in the subinventory.
1. A point of care testing system, comprising:
a disposable device comprising:
a port configured to receive a patient sample;
analytical elements including electrodes or optics for sensing analytes within said patient sample; and
a time and temperature sensor comprising temperature-sensing circuitry configured to:
provide a code or signal associated with the disposable device that indicates a first time at which the disposable device has been moved from a refrigerated storage condition to an ambient storage condition;
monitor a temperature of the device at the ambient storage condition prior to the disposable device receiving the patient sample;
determine whether the temperature has remained below, above, or within a predetermined temperature range; and
in response to determining that the temperature has remained below or above the predetermined temperature range, increase or decrease, respectively, a predetermined shelf life of the device by a predetermined amount of time that is dependent upon the temperature to generate a modified shelf life;
an analyzer comprising:
a port configure to receive the disposable device; and
a processor and a memory storing program instructions, wherein the program instructions when operated on by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
obtain the code and the modified shelf life from the disposable device;
determine a second time when the disposable device will expire due to the temperature of the device at the ambient storage condition based on the code and the modified shelf life;
determine whether the second time has elapsed prior to use of the disposable device to determine whether the modified shelf life of the disposable device is exceeded; and
when the second time has elapsed, lock out the disposable device such that the disposable device is prevented from being used.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined shelf life is a finite ambient temperature shelf life that is dependent upon an ambient temperature in which the disposable device is stored.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein said finite ambient temperature shelf life is from about 3 days to 3 months.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the time and temperature sensor further comprises a chemical component, a liquid crystal, a mechanical device, a threshold device, or combinations thereof.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the patient sample comprises blood, plasma, serum, interstitial fluid, spinal fluid, urine, bodily secretions or combinations thereof.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the disposable device is a blood analysis device, a urine analysis device, a serum analysis device, a plasma analysis device, a saliva analysis device, a cheek swab analysis device, or a diagnostic device.