The cold chain is a legal necessity within the pharmaceutical industry that applies at every stage – from crafting medication from ingredients to storing it in pharmacies before collection.
But why is the cold chain so important and how do cold rooms help?
Our temperature-controlled experts at MTCSS reveal all!
What is the Cold Chain and How are Cold Rooms Involved?
The cold chain is a temperature-controlled supply chain that includes the manufacture, storage, and distribution of goods like food, drinks, pharmaceuticals, and flowers or plants.
Stretching from production to delivery to the end user, the cold chain ensures the goods remain at a constant cool temperature, to keep them in the best (and safest) condition.
Cold room chillers can be an essential part of the safe storage of medications, vaccines, topical ointments, and medication ingredients if they require chilling or refrigerating, especially if the quantity being distributed would not fit in a more traditional medications fridge.
As such, cold room chillers can be an essential step in the cold chain.
Why is the Cold Chain Important?
In the UK, most medications need to be stored below 25°C, but some need to be refrigerated at +2–8°C to stop them from degrading and to ensure they function as prescribed when taken or given to the patient.
Storing them correctly is a legal necessity and doing so competently means that all of the necessary health and safety considerations are taken.
Tips on how to do so are outlined by Good Distribution Practice (GDP) per EU legislation and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Steps in the Pharmaceutical Cold Chain
The steps in a cold chain related to the pharmaceutical industry cover the medication from R&D right the way through to storage before the patient picks it up.
While they may differ throughout the pharmaceutical industry, a standard cold chain could include:
- Research and development – including storing pharmaceutical ingredients before production.
- Drug manufacture.
- Transportation – using refrigerated distribution options (more on this below).
- Distribution hubs – to store pharmaceuticals before they go to smaller, local pharmacists or hospitals.
- Transportation – with refrigerated transport options.
- Healthcare facility/pharmacy – which can include pharmacy fridges or cold room chillers, depending on the capacity needed.
In most brick-and-mortar premises, companies will use pharmacy fridges or cold rooms to store goods at the correct temperatures – though this will depend on how much product you need to store or move.
Likewise, when in transit, temperature-controlled distribution options, including refrigerated shipping containers or vans, can be used to ensure pharmaceuticals and other perishable goods are kept within safe limits.
Why is a Cold Room Essential for Pharmaceuticals?
A cold room chiller can be the ideal solution for storing pharmaceuticals versus a medical fridge as it:
- Can hold much larger quantities
While an especially large laboratory fridge can hold 1,300L, a cold room can hold much, much more.
This means you can store everything safely in one place and only need to check the temperatures of one location.
- Maintains the stability and effectiveness of medications
Keeping temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals cool is always best as if they get warm, ingredients can break down or become less effective – leading to pharmaceuticals that aren’t the right quality or dosage.
- Keeps patients safe
If prescribed medications do not work as expected, health conditions can worsen or long-term illnesses can worsen
Plus, it is easier to avoid adverse drug reactions (ADRs) – which can lead to sudden reactions to known medications and drugs.
- Provides peace of mind
Cold rooms can offer and include back-up refrigeration systems as well as sensors and remote functionality, meaning that if the temperatures change an alert is sent and your team can go and investigate.
This gives an additional peace of mind when concerning medications or vaccinations that must be kept at a specific, maintained temperature.
If you need appropriate storage of pharmaceuticals and medications, a cold room chiller from MTCSS can help.
We can help you every step of the way, from design and installation to ongoing maintenance and refurbishment – so you know your pharmaceuticals will be safe for years to come.
To get started or to ask any questions about cold rooms, call us at 01886 833 381 or email us at sales@mtcss.flywheelsites.com. We’ll be in touch as soon as we can to help.
