Cold chain shipping pharmaceuticals can ensure that the products you store and ship remain in optimal condition even though the shipment uses any mode of transportation. There is temperature control in the logistics delivery system that can ensure that sensitive pharmaceutical products can survive safely. Furthermore, the product will reach consumers and become a safe material so that it does not harm patients.
The temperature range for storage and delivery of pharmaceutical cold chains is usually between 2°C and 8°C. Products include in cold chain shipping pharmaceuticals are usually common cold chain drugs, certain types of insulin, vaccines, cancer treatment drugs, biologics, and gene cellular therapy products.
The process starts operating from the factory, laboratory, warehouse and continues until delivery to the consumer. There are a number of equipment and tools that will accompany the pharmaceutical cold chain journey such as data loggers. This equipment will monitor and control the temperature at every stage.
If one day one product is a part of the cold chain logistics list, then all sets of equipment will accompany the storage, packaging, and distribution facilities. Then the technology in pharmaceutical cold chain equipment and supplies will make it easier for the logistics team to maintain temperature stability.
If there is a temperature deviation, sensor technology will provide a signal. Next, there will be an evaluation from the team to resolve this issue as soon as possible so that it does not become a danger to the product.
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How Cold Chain Shipping Pharmaceuticals Works
Packaging is an important stage in how cold chain shipping pharmaceuticals work. In the packaging stage, decision making becomes very crucial because you have to pay attention to many things such as packaging containers and cooling methods. Pharmaceutical product packaging is usually for delivery to laboratories, hospitals, patients, and various health care facilities.
In how its packaging works, cold chain shipping pharmaceuticals will consider several things such as:
Ideal Temperature
Packaging must maintain an ideal temperature so that the cold chain can maintain the efficacy of the pharmaceutical product. The ideal temperature is one that does not approach deviations below and above its critical limits.
The initiation phase of the packaging process is the right time to set the upper and lower temperature limits. The storage facility team manager must understand the right temperature for the products they will package. Once the settings are ready, you can choose the appropriate cold chain refrigerant.
Transit Time
The packaging process must also prepare an estimate of the transit time. If the estimate is correct, the storage and transportation process of pharmaceutical products will also be safe. You must be able to determine and distinguish how long each pharmaceutical product can last during the shipping process. Some vaccines and medicines can only be in transit overnight due to their characteristics.
The on-duty packaging team must be able to adjust the method to the length of the transit time so that your product remains in a safe temperature range during the trip.
Cost Utilization
The team that handles cold chain shipping pharmaceuticals must be able to calculate the cost of procurement, return and disposal of packaging materials according to the logistics shipping needs carefully. Sometimes their calculations can be wrong which results in the company having to pay a higher return cost than the procurement cost.
Load Size
If the team knows the size of the load, they will be able to pack the product according to the type of insulated container. The heavier the load, the container requires higher insulation properties with a stronger construction to be safe and resistant to pressure during transportation.
Important Components in Cold Chain Shipping Pharmaceuticals
Protection of products during cold chain shipping pharmaceuticals can be in the form of packaging using insulated containers with a certain temperature, refrigerants according to the temperature for the product, and temperature monitoring devices.
Insulated Containers
It is very important to use insulated containers in packaging products that are vulnerable to temperature and humidity. This container will be a comfortable environment for storing products during shipping. The container will ward off any increase in external temperature.
Insulated containers include outer packaging, protective packaging, and insulation materials. Each laboratory and warehouse will choose their own specifications for insulated containers.
Refrigerant Selection
Refrigerants in cold chain shipping pharmaceuticals are very important in maintaining the stability of the internal temperature of the packaging. The forms of refrigerants that you often find on the market include PCM (Phase Change Materials), Gel Pack, Ice Pack, or Dry Ice.
You certainly know how refrigerant packaging works, right? Refrigerants use insulated containers that can maintain frozen temperatures, cold temperatures or controlled room temperatures.
Temperature Monitoring Devices
Increased temperature levels can be harmful to pharmaceutical products as they can become toxic or become damaged and useless altogether. Temperature monitoring devices such as data loggers can help pharmaceutical cold chain teams monitor temperatures consistently.
You can choose the type of temperature monitoring device that best suits your particular cold chain logistics shipment. Whether it is disposable or reusable data loggers or 3G and 4G real-time data loggers. Data loggers will notify you of any temperature changes over time. Then, these advanced technology devices also provide accurate report data with the most appropriate data transfer method for your needs.
Get the best temperature monitoring devices only at HLY Technology Co., Ltd. We produce almost all the data loggers you need. We also shoulder the responsibility for the pharmaceutical cold chain and other industries so that your business certainty can continue to rise. When business certainty produces quality products and management, customer trust will also increase. Let’s join us in realizing a better business from year to year.