Medicines are important and indispensable products in life, so drug preservation is a top concern of hospitals and pharmacies. Many hospitals and pharmacies have installed cold storage to preserve drugs effectively.
In this article, Tan Long Cold Storage will introduce the structure of cold storage medicine, some notes on installation and advantages of drug storage warehouse.
Cold storage for medicine and pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals, or drugs, are used to prevent and treat human diseases. Because of the importance of drugs in the medical industry, their preservation is essential. Cold storage Drug preservation is an effective solution to ensure the quality and effectiveness of drugs.
Structure of cold storage for medicine
To preserve medicine effectively, cold storage medicine need to have special structure with the following components:
- Warehouse shell: Assembled from high quality insulation panels such as EPS Panel and PU Panel.
- Warehouse door: Made from stainless steel 201 and stainless steel 304, ensuring durability. There are two types of doors: sliding doors and swing doors.
- Cluster compressor Industry: Compression refrigerant to the highest level for refrigeration and condensation in the warehouse.
- Condenser Industrial: Divided into models corresponding to the temperature used in the warehouse. The cooling system must ensure aesthetics and have a sturdy shell. The suitable temperature for storing medicine is from 0°C to 8°C.
- Control cabinet: Controls and regulates all operations of the cold storage. The regulator will maintain a stable temperature according to pre-set parameters.
Notes on designing cold storage for medicine
Location
Cold storage for medicine is designed and built in a high, safe place to protect medicine and raw materials from environmental impacts. In addition, the installation should be done in a location convenient for import and export of goods.
Design and construction
- Temperature: The ideal cold storage temperature for storing medicine is between 0°C and 8°C.
- Ceiling, walls, roof: Ensure ventilation, air circulation, and durability against weather.
- Warehouse floor: Must be high, flat, smooth, sturdy, moisture-proof, waterproof, and free of cracks to avoid dust and insects.
Equipment
- Monitoring system: Install automatic temperature monitoring sensors to continuously check and adjust temperature.
- Fire safety: Install explosion-proof lights and safe electrical circuit systems that meet standards.
- Backup power: There is a backup power system to operate 24/7.
- Shelves: Equip shelves to avoid leaving medicine on the floor, ensure distance between shelves for easy cleaning, checking and import and export.
Temperature conditions
- Cold storage for medicine: Temperature does not exceed 8°C.
- Drug freezer: Temperature does not exceed -10°C.
- Cold storage for medicine: Temperature from 8°C – 15°C.
- Room temperature storage: Temperature from 15°C – 25°C, can go up to 30°C without affecting the medicine.
- Refrigerator storage: Temperature from 2°C – 8°C.
Outstanding advantages of using cold storage for drug preservation
Using cold storage to preserve pharmaceuticals brings many outstanding advantages:
- Stable and precise temperature: Cold storage for medicine maintains stable and precise temperature for each type of product.
- Versatile storage: Cold storage can store a variety of drugs at different temperatures, from freezing to cool.
- Closed structure: The cold storage has a closed structure, ensuring storage temperature and preventing factors affecting product quality.
- Control system: Ventilation, control and temperature control systems can be installed to ensure the warehouse is always stable.
Principles to know when preserving drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients
Storage conditions
Drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients must be stored under conditions that maintain quality as prescribed by law. Arrange and distribute according to the principle of “First Expiry First Out” (FEFO) or “First In First Out” (FIFO) to ensure that expired products are not distributed.
Arrange medicine
Medicines and materials should be arranged on shelves, racks, or pallets, not placed directly on the floor. Medicine bags and cartons can be stacked but must be protected from breakage and damage.
Packaging
Drug packaging must be kept intact during storage and drugs must not be mixed.
Delivery area
The receiving area must protect the drugs from weather effects and be equipped to clean the goods before they are placed in storage.
Security
Ensure that there is no loss of drugs, especially those under special control as prescribed by law. The area where special drugs are stored must have clear signs and secure packaging.
Store separately
Highly active, flammable, and sensitive drugs must be stored separately with appropriate safety measures.
medicine has smell
Medicines with odors should be stored in sealed packages, in a separate area to avoid affecting other medicines.
Photosensitivity drugs
Light-sensitive drugs must be stored in tightly closed containers, protected from light, in a closed chamber or dark room.
The drug is volatile and sensitive to moisture.
Volatile and moisture-sensitive drugs should be stored in a cool, tightly closed container. Strong desiccants should be stored in dry conditions in tightly closed glass or plastic containers.
Vaccines are perishable.
Vaccines susceptible to freezing should be stored away from the walls, bottom of the refrigerator or near the evaporator. Monitor the area with an electronic freeze indicator or an automatic temperature recorder.
Physical isolation
Arrange isolation between quarantine areas. Quarantine drugs are clearly marked and only authorized personnel are allowed access.
Handling of spoiled medicine
Broken or damaged medicines must be removed from the warehouse and cleaned up as soon as possible to avoid contamination and harm. There must be a written handling procedure.
GSP standard drug warehouse storage conditions
General instructions for storage conditions
Storage conditions in the warehouse must comply with the instructions on the drug label. According to the World Health Organization, normal storage is in dry, airy conditions, and temperatures from 15-25°C, up to 30°C depending on climatic conditions. Avoid direct light, external odors and other signs of contamination. If not clearly stated on the label, store at a temperature of 30°C and a humidity not exceeding 70%. In addition, attention should be paid to the following special conditions:
- Cold storage: Temperature not exceeding 8°C
- Refrigerator: Temperature from 2-8°C
- Cold storage: Temperature not exceeding -10°C
- Cool storage: Temperature from 8-15°C
- Room temperature storage: Temperature from 15-25°C, can go up to 30°C
Ensure uniformity of temperature and humidity in the warehouse.
Storage conditions for drug labels and packaging
- a) Medicines and medicinal ingredients must be stored in suitable packaging that does not affect their quality and is protected from environmental influences, including against contamination.
- b) All drug and raw material packaging must have clear labels with full information according to Circular No. 01/2018/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health. For packaging that does not require labeling according to this Circular, it is necessary to have at least the following information: product name, batch number, expiry date or re-inspection date, and specific storage conditions.
- c) Do not use abbreviations, names or codes that are not specified on the packaging label. International and/or national abbreviations, names or codes may be used on the shipping packaging label.
Control and rotation of goods
Check and verify drugs and raw materials in stock
- a) Periodically check the drugs and raw materials in the warehouse by comparing the actual quantity with the quantity recorded on the import-export tracking form. The check must be done when each batch of drugs or raw materials is used up.
- b) Any discrepancies or losses in the reconciliation of drug and raw material quantities must be investigated according to specific procedures to determine the cause, such as mistakes, incorrect import and export, or theft.
- c) Do not dispense drugs and raw materials with damaged packaging, no longer intact, missing labels, torn labels or unclear labels, or with questionable quality. In this case, the warehouse keeper must immediately notify the quality control department for review and evaluation. All actions must be recorded.
- d) Partially used containers of drugs and materials must be securely resealed to avoid spillage or contamination during subsequent storage.
Control expired goods
All drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients must be checked periodically for expiry dates. Precautions must be taken to prevent the dispensing of expired drugs and ingredients.
Tan Long - A reputable and professional unit installing cold storage for medicine
Cold storage Tan Long is one of the leading units in Vietnam specializing in consulting, designing and installing cold storage.
We construct and install most types of cold storage such as: commercial cold storage, industrial cold storage, mini cold storage; cold storage for preserving meat, vegetables, agricultural products, vaccines, fresh flowers, fruits, food, seafood, milk, ice cubes, draft beer, ice cream, medicine, seeds, etc.
With a team of skilled, dedicated and enthusiastic professionals, we commit to quick installation (only 2-3 days), reasonable prices, standard and genuine equipment.
If you need installation cold storage medicine & pharmaceuticals, please contact Tan Long at 0933357058 for advice and detailed quotes.
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