Patent ID: 8192924

Claim:
A process for maintaining blood in an insulated vessel at 22° C.±2° C. for at least 15 hours where the ambient temperature outside the insulated vessel is between 39° C. and −35° C., wherein the blood is intended to be transfused into a patient or used to produce blood products, comprising: a) cooling blood contained in a flexible polymer pouch to about 22° C. using a contained phase change material which consists essentially of 98% 1-dodecanol, 1.5% myristyl alcohol and 0.5% 1-decanol and wherein the container for the phase change material covers a major portion of each of the two largest surfaces of the flexible polymer pouch, wherein: (i) the contained phase change material was preconditioned at 22° C. or less for about 12 hours or more; and (ii) the contained phase change material is positioned to cover said major portions for about 2 hours or until the temperature of the blood drops to 22° C.±2° C.; b) the contained phase change material covering said major portions is placed into said insulated vessel and subjected to temperatures between 39° C. and −35° C. for up to 15 hours and it maintains the blood in the flexible polymer pouch at 22° C.±2° C.