Table 2. Maximum DHM storage duration at home and at the HMB, before and after pasteurization (n = 123).
| Responses | n (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage at home | Maximum storage duration in a refrigerator (before freezing) | 0h-Immediate freezing | 16 (13) |
| 1h-6h | 8 (7) | ||
| 12h | 9 (7) | ||
| 24h | 57 (46) | ||
| 48h | 26 (21) | ||
| 72h | 3 (2) | ||
| No handling at home | 2 (2) | ||
| Other | 2 (2) | ||
| Maximum storage duration in a freezer | 1 week | 9 (7) | |
| 2 weeks | 19 (15) | ||
| 1 month | 14 (11) | ||
| 2 months | 4 (3) | ||
| 3 months | 24 (20) | ||
| 4 months | 17 (14) | ||
| 6 months | 17 (14) | ||
| N/A | 6 (5) | ||
| Not specified | 5 (4) | ||
| Other | 8 (7) | ||
| Storage at the HMB before pasteurization | Maximum storage duration in a refrigerator | 0h-Immediate freezing | 32 (26) |
| 12-14h | 7 (6) | ||
| 24h | 35 (28) | ||
| 48h | 27 (22) | ||
| 72h | 11 (9) | ||
| Don’t know | 5 (4) | ||
| Other | 6 (5) | ||
| Maximum storage duration in a freezer | 1–2 weeks | 5 (4) | |
| 1–2 months | 14 (11) | ||
| 3 months | 43 (35) | ||
| 4 months | 18 (15) | ||
| 5 months | 2 (2) | ||
| 6 months | 28 (23) | ||
| > 6 months | 2 (2) | ||
| N/A | 7 (6) | ||
| Don’t know | 3 (2) | ||
| Other | 1 (1) | ||
| Storage at the HMB after pasteurization * | 4 to 5°C | 24h | 4 (3) |
| 48h | 1 (1) | ||
| 72h | 1 (1) | ||
| -18 to -30°C | 3 months | 39 (34) | |
| 4 months | 1 (1) | ||
| 6 months | 58 (50) | ||
| 8–9 months | 2 (2) | ||
| 2 years | 1 (1) | ||
| Don’t know | 1 (1) | ||
| -80°C | 1 year | 5 (4) | |
| Don’t know-N/A | 3 (3) | ||
| Total duration of DHM storage in a freezer (months) * | -18 to -30°C | Minimum | 2 |
| Maximum | 49 | ||
| Mean ± SD | 10.3 ± 5.61 | ||
| Minimum | 13.38 | ||
| -80°C | Maximum | 18 | |
| Mean ± SD | 15.7 ± 1.97 |
*HMBs that do not pasteurize DHM are not included (n = 7). SD, standard deviation.