Supporting documents
Rainbow Trays and Tamper Evident Rainbow Trays are supported by a number of publications both directly and indirectly. Please click on the links to view the documents. We would be pleased to assist you with any further information, please contact us.
MD-TEC
Formative Usability Study by Medical Devices Testing and Evaluation Centre
In association with Birmingham University Hospitals, including a summary of objectives, findings and conclusions. Key messages are:
Improved efficiency of 9.8%
100% positive feedback
Rainbow Trays will enhance drug labelling
Anaesthesia
An observational feasability study of a new anaesthesia drug storage tray
Anaesthesia 2018 anae.14187 DS Almghaibi et al
Rainbow Trays were tested against current practice to demonstrate that it is feasable to introduce a new colour coded compartmentalised Rainbow Tray into clinical practice. Findings included a perception of ease of use by aiding drug identification through colour coded compartmentalisation.
Anaesthesia
Medication handling: towards a practical, human-centered approach
Anaesthesia 2018 anae.14482 SD Marshall and N Chrimes
An examination of the causes of medication handling problems and solutions to address the human factor considerations. Several studies have found that colour coded trays have proved to be successful and a Rainbow Tray system was found to be a low cost and acceptable solution to cue syringe position and size.
EJA
The European Board of Anaesthesiology recommendations for safe medication practice
Eur J Anaesthesiol 2017; 34:4-7
In particular: ”Adequate, uncluttered surface space and appropriate trays, clean for each patient, should be provided for drawing up, arranging and holding the syringes and drugs used in each anaesthetic. Wherever possible this should be standardised.”
BJA
Standardised colour-coded compartmentalised syringe trays improve anaesthetic medication visual search and mitigate cognitive load
Laboratory Investigation 2023
Colour-coded compartmentalisation enhanced visual search efficacy of pre-loaded trays. Reduced fixations and fixation times for the loaded tray were shown for colour-coded compartmentalised trays, indicating a reduction in cognitive load. Overall, colour-coded compartmentalised trays were associated with significant performance improvements when compared with conventional trays.
Anesthesiology
Evaluation of Perioperative Medication Errors and Adverse Drug Events
Anaesthesiology 2016; 124:25-34 Karen C Nanji et al
This study examines the rates for perioperative medication error in anaesthesia and through observation finds that a rate of 1 in 20 administrations and every second operation resulted in a medication error and/or adverse drug event.
BJA
Effects of colour-coded compartmentalised syringe trays on anaesthetic drug error detection under cognitive load
Laboratory Investigation 2024
Colour coding and compartmentalisation enhanced visual search efficacy of drug trays. This is further evidence that introducing standardised colour-coded trays into operating theatres and procedural suites would add an additional layer of safety for anaesthetic procedures.
RCoA
AAGBI and RCoA syringe labelling in critical care areas using the ISO25826 international standard for background colours for user applied syringe drug labels
These colours are represented in the Rainbow Trays providing a compartmentalised sequential tray that standardises the presentation of anaesthetic drugs in a clean bacteriostatic carrier.
Rainbow Trays and Tamper Evident Rainbow Trays are compliant with the guidance and recommendations of:
