manufacturers' recommendations. Every bag should tell you what
temperature range to aim for and how long you can store the fluid
at that temperature — typical specifications will be about 21 days
at 96 to 98°F. The differences in recommendations stem mostly
from the material used to house the fluids. The plastic in the bags
is what denatures over time in a heated environment.
Worth noting: Some manufacturers recommend that cabinets be
used solely to warm blankets and that fluids be warmed separately in
infusion lines with the patient. There's an ongoing philosophical argu-
ment where this is concerned, but there's no reason not to store and
warm fluids in cabinets. As noted, every IV bag manufactured in the
United States says what temperature it can be warmed to, and how
long it can be stored at that temperature. There's no statute or rule
anywhere that says you must do otherwise. As long as you mark the
date on the bag and stay within the specified time period (and let's
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N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5 | O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
z SEPARATE QUARTERS Warming cabinets should be equipped with at least 2 different compartments, and
each compartment should have its own thermostat.
