Clin Exp Vaccine Res.  2020 Jan;9(1):8-14. 10.7774/cevr.2020.9.1.8.

Cold chain time- and temperature-controlled transport of vaccines: a simulated experimental study

• Ng CZ
• Lean YL
• Yeoh SF
• Lean QY
• Lee KS
• Suleiman A
• Liew KB
• Kassab YW
• Al-Worafi
• Ming LC

• KMID: 2470833
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7774/cevr.2020.9.1.8

Abstract

PURPOSE
The objective of this research was to examine the cold chain temperature maintenance for the supply of vaccines and other biological products by pharmaceutical wholesaler.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this study, six configurations using cold vaccine boxes or bags made with different materials, with and without insulation, of different sizes, and number of coolant-packs were used to simulate the configuration used by the pharmaceutical wholesalers for transportation of vaccine. Model vaccines (vial, n=10) were packed using these six configurations which then stored in an incubator at 38℃ and monitored for 24 hours. Each configuration was tested repeatedly for 5 times.
RESULTS
In term of compliance to 2℃-8℃, four out of six tested configurations are effective in cold chain transportation. The effectiveness is highly dependent on the type of passive containers used, size of cold boxes, insulation, and number of coolant-packs. The configuration with a larger polystyrene foam box with five coolant-packs maintained the required temperature up to 23 hours. In contrast, configurations using a polystyrene foam box with four coolant-packs and a large vaccine cold box with two coolant-packs failed to reach below 8℃ throughout the 24 hours.
CONCLUSION
Packaging method, the material and size of the container could have a direct impact on the effectiveness of cold chain temperature maintenance. Polystyrene foam box, cold box with polyethylene interior lining and polypropylene insulation, a cooler bag with proper number of ice packs could be effectively used for transportation of vaccines within their respective transportation duration allowance.

Keyword

Cold chain management; Temperature; Pharmaceutical wholesaler; Transportation

MeSH Terms

Biological Products
Compliance
Ice
Incubators
Methods
Polyethylene
Polypropylenes
Polystyrenes
Product Packaging
Refrigeration*
Transportation
Vaccines*
Biological Products
Ice
Polyethylene
Polypropylenes
Polystyrenes
Vaccines

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A, B) Mean temperature (±standard deviation, n=5) values of internal temperature of each configuration over 24 hours.

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