Larval Therapy is simple to administer and easy to manage during treatment, but did you know that there are a few fundamental steps that you can follow prior to application, to help ensure that the larvae remain viable and effective for use from the moment they arrive? Temperature and storage is a crucial aspect to maintaining the viability of larvae before they are applied to a patient, and by following the steps in this article, you can help the larvae on their way to their desired destination of the wound bed.
Once the courier has arrived and you’ve taken receipt of a BioMonde delivery, it is advisable to keep the larvae in their original transit box, which includes the outer cardboard sleeve and the inner insulated polystyrene box. So that the larvae can remain aseptic in preparation for treatment, make sure you do not disturb them by taking them out of their bubble-wrap pouch or by unscrewing the yellow lidded vial. This process should only be done immediately prior to application. In the meantime, your role is to keep the box safe and secure until it is dispensed.
Store your BioMonde box in a dry place and remember that it is not to be refrigerated or frozen under any circumstances. The larvae do not like chilly conditions, and even though popping them in the fridge may seem like a good idea, it could harm them. Larvae are not too dissimilar to humans, in the fact that they prefer a comfortable room temperature, ideally around 20-25 degrees. On the opposite end of the spectrum this also means that you should place the box away from exposure to direct sunlight, and not too close to any radiators or heating equipment. If you are a community nurse needing to transport larvae to a patient’s home for example, please also be very mindful of car heaters and air con. Be certain not to leave the box unattended in a car for a long period of time, as it may become too hot or cold for the larvae, depending on what time of year it is.
BioMonde aim to make receiving and storing your larvae products as simple as possible. This is why we provide insulated boxes containing easy-to-follow Instructions for use, which we recommend reading upon receipt and before treatment takes place. It is also worth being aware that there is a temperature indicator strip just inside the polystyrene box, which should be inspected on arrival. The temperature indicator is a small, button-like object, and should ideally be green or clear in colour to show that the larvae have not been exposed to temperatures outside of the recommended range. If upon receipt of the larvae, you notice that the temperature indicator has turned red in colour, please contact us to report this immediately and we will advise you of next steps and whether your larvae remain viable for use.
All BioBag products should have 2-days viability off the wound, meaning that they can be applied to a patient either on the day following dispatch from BioMonde or the day after. If in doubt of when your order was dispatched from us, please inspect the outer cardboard packaging of the box, where there should be a marked expiry date. BioMonde kindly recommend that you adhere to the guidelines above, so that your larvae can arrive onto a wound in optimal condition, ready to debride.
If you would like any further clarification on the storage requirements for Larval Therapy, please contact our Customer Service Team on 0345 230 1810 or visit www.biomonde.com.