Shipping Pharmaceuticals: What You Need to Know About the Cold Chain Process
When it comes to moving pharmaceuticals, time is of the essence. A slight change in temperature–even just 2 degrees, can ruin temperature controlled products.
Ensuring temperature regulation during shipping is crucial. There are several steps in the shipping process. Some of the steps in the cold chain include:
- Supply chain: The drugs or pharmaceutical products are made and packaged at a plant.
- Transportation: The products are then transported in a refrigerated or insulated truck. These trucks are subjected to regular inspections to ensure that they are in good shape to hold inventory at the right temperature before they are released.
- Storage: Pharmaceutical products might go into cold storage before they are distributed. The refrigerated storage facility often acts as a staging or middle ground before the product reaches their final destination.
- Market: Oftentimes, the last step in the cold chain logistics process is delivery to the final destination where the product is sold or administered.
Maintaining Correct Temperatures
In addition to transporting pharmaceuticals, reefer trucks often carry fresh produce, cut flowers, ice cream and other temperature-controlled products.
Bulk gel ice packs are another solution for your cold shipping needs. Most gel packs for shipping medicine and other perishable goods come in various sizes and shapes while some offer multiple uses or require proper disposal after use due to the toxic chemicals used to achieve its temperature.
Ice Cold Gel Packs is the leading supplier of safe, non-toxic gel packs with locations in Los Angeles, and Dallas, Texas. Our products are used worldwide to protect the integrity of foods and pharmaceuticals in transit. Click here to view their online store.
The Rules for Shipping Pharmaceuticals
Pharma transport requires secure, private handling. The Food and Drug Administration sets rules and regulations concerning storage, transport, and distribution.
When shipping pharmaceuticals, there are several important rules that must be followed to ensure that the product is safe for use. The most critical of these rules is the requirement that the temperature of the product be maintained throughout the entire shipping process. Failure to maintain the correct temperature can significantly alter the chemical makeup of the pharmaceuticals, making them potentially dangerous and ineffective for the intended patient.
It is important that all temperature regulations are followed, as any alteration in temperature could lead to a product being rendered unusable and dangerous.
Follow All Cold Chain Instructions
Carriers must follow guidelines when transporting pharmaceuticals, like driver regulations, confidentiality clauses, and monitoring. This is typically written in the contract when the carrier agrees to serve the customer from their refrigerated warehouse.
Cold Gel Packs are the solution that your cold chain business needs to ensure your product stays ice cold! Whether you’re shipping food, pharmaceuticals, liquids, or any other perishable item, their non-toxic gel packs are here to help you keep cold! Contact sales@icecoldgelpacks.com to see how gel packs can innovate your shipping needs.
Standard ice begins to melt quickly, leaving your dry goods wet and stored at an improper temperature. Once frozen, our standard Ice Cold Gel Packs last up to 65% longer than regular frozen ice derived from water. Our Ice Cold Gel Pack has two main components; water and a sodium based gel that mixes with the water to lower the temperature of the pack.
Although the materials inside our Ice Cold Gel Packs are non-toxic you should avoid handling the contents inside and wash with soap and water. The best way to determine if your shipment requires dry ice or gel packs is to first consider the temperature while shipping. If you need your package to be shipped cold but not quite frozen (30-60 degrees), gel packs are the best option.
There are several rules and regulations to think about when shipping temperature sensitive products and medicine; however, shipping with Ice Cold Gel Packs is easier, more cost effective, and safer than traditional refrigeration methods. Some of the other benefits of choosing Ice Cold Gel Packs;
- ICGP are non-toxic
- Our packs are reusable and safer for the environment.
- The contents of our gel packs are kept secure and will not contaminate your product.
- ICGP can be used to ship goods without the restrictions placed on items shipped with dry ice while maintaining the correct temperature range.
Cold shipping may not be new, but with the advancements made by our team, we can help make your experience much more effective, efficient and accessible, which is good news for any business.