Case Studies

Failure to regulate temperature in the supply chain correctly can cost the distributor in a number of ways, and can lead to loss of confidence in their services on the part of manufacturers, the MHRA and pharmacists.Alliance Healthcare (Distribution) Ltd, a pharmaceutical wholesaler (formerly UniChem), uses Tinytag data loggers in its many service centres around the UK. Exeter, a typical service centre, has large walk-in fridges where important vaccines are kept and the loggers are used to help maintain a constant temperature within the fridges. Data loggers are positioned within the walk-in fridges and then a responsible person downloads the data from each logger to identify any fluctuations and what may have contributed to them. In addition, the data loggers are used within the warehouse itself to prove that the recommended range of between 15-25°C has been maintained.

The WHO recommendation is for the temperature of vaccine refrigerators to be continually monitored and for a record to be taken at least once per day and documented on a chart. Historically, a min/max thermometer would be used for this purpose. However, this is laborious and prone to human error, so a small data logger that sits next to the vaccines is an easier, more effective solution.