The importance of temperature and pharmaceutical storage

When it comes to pharmaceutical sample management maintaining temperature is of vital importance. In fact, only a 2 degree Celsius change in temperature can compromise a sample or product. This makes selecting and maintaining storage conditions for pharmaceuticals critical to ensure that the products are able to maintain their validity without risking contamination or spoiling.

TEMPERATURE AND PHARMACEUTICAL STABILITY

Every pharmaceutical sample and product can have specific storage requirements. This makes it even more critical to ensure that storage conditions are monitored closely at all times to ensure that nothing is compromised. If a pharmaceutical product or sample is stored at a temperature that is not conducive to maintaining stability you can risk degradation that could be potentially dangerous if the product is administered. In some instances, temperate can even impact and change the properties of a drug. This can cause it to change in color, odor, taste, and texture. Physical changes like this indicate that the drug is no longer viable and could cause harm to a consumer.

Recent advancements have now made it possible for pharmaceuticals to maintain their potency and vitality in lower temperatures. This has made cold storage for pharmaceutical samples more prevalent. Cold storage usually ranges between two and eight degrees Celcius and has become one of the most popular choices for storing pharmaceuticals. However, for this type of storage to work, the manufacturer, shipper and seller must all work together to coordinate and communicate every stage of the process to ensure that no temperature errors occur. For instance, if a manufacturer requires the drug to be stored at two degrees but the shipper transports it at eight degrees the products could be compromised. If the seller is not aware of this, they might then sell or administer the drug, putting consumers in harm’s way.

PHARMACEUTICAL SAMPLE MANAGEMENT

Pharmaceutical sample management as required by the World Health Organization states that all pharmaceutical products must be stored in an area with no light or odors. These areas must also have adequate ventilation and humidity levels no higher than 60%. While general storage conditions tend to be set at 14 to 25 degrees, it’s now becoming more common to store drugs at even lower temperatures to prevent them from becoming compromised. However, it’s important to know the exact temperature limits for a product to ensure it becomes neither too warm nor too cold.

In many instances manufacturers are becoming more reliant on storage facilities for pharmaceutical sample management to ensure conditions are optimally maintained. This option is often safer and more affordable for companies.

To help mitigate the chance for error, more and more manufacturers are turning to third-party storage facilities. Facilities like this can help keep products at the temperatures required and in the proper storage environments.

If you’re looking to improve the storage conditions of your products, consider the benefits of a third party facility and reach out to one near you. In many instances these companies can also provide secure shipping and transport to ensure the maximum protection of all pharmaceuticals.

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