Cold Chain Management Flashcards
7 cards from real APHA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Cold Chain Management flashcards as text
A digital data logger shows the refrigerator temperature reached 9°C for 3 hours overnight. What is the FIRST action the immunization coordinator should take?
Answer: Quarantine the vaccines and contact the state/local health department or manufacturer
Vaccines should be quarantined and labeled 'do not use' while contacting the health department or manufacturer to assess viability—never discard without guidance.
Which type of thermometer is considered the gold standard for vaccine storage monitoring according to CDC guidance?
Answer: Digital data logger with current, minimum, and maximum display
Digital data loggers that display current, minimum, and maximum temperatures provide continuous monitoring and are CDC's recommended standard.
When packing a vaccine transport cooler, vaccines should be placed in relation to ice packs in which of the following ways?
Answer: Separated from ice packs by insulating material to prevent freezing
Vaccines must be separated from ice packs with a barrier (e.g., bubble wrap or cardboard) to prevent freezing damage, especially to freeze-sensitive vaccines.
What is the recommended temperature range for storing most refrigerated vaccines?
Answer: 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F)
The recommended refrigerator storage range for vaccines is 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) per CDC and manufacturer guidelines.
A provider discovers that a stand-alone freezer storing varicella vaccine has been accidentally turned off for an unknown duration and the vaccines have completely thawed. What should be done?
Answer: Quarantine vaccines and consult the manufacturer or health department before use
Even for freeze-sensitive or previously frozen vaccines, providers must quarantine and consult the manufacturer or health department to determine usability.
Which of the following locations within a refrigerator should vaccines NEVER be stored?
Answer: The door shelves
Refrigerator door shelves are subject to temperature fluctuations every time the door opens and should never be used for vaccine storage.
How often should vaccine storage unit temperatures be manually reviewed by staff, in addition to automated data logger monitoring?
Answer: At the start and end of each workday
CDC recommends manually reviewing and recording temperatures at the start and end of each workday to catch issues in real time.