| Jeff Leshuk at Sensitech instructs us in understanding temperature variation in order to achieve better cold chain management
Most companies dealing with temperature-sensitive medicinal products know that controlling temperature during handling, storage and distribution is critical. However, it is less widely known that temperature can vary significantly throughout the cold chain. Many factors influence the temperature of medicinal products throughout the supply chain and the dynamic nature of these factors increases the complexity of overall cold chain management. Where temperature requirements are crucial to the quality and safety of the product, and tolerances are relatively narrow, it is critical to obtain and maintain control. Understanding temperature variation is important in managing all types of processes, including the temperature-controlled distribution of medicinal products.
UNDERSTANDING TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS AND THEIR CAUSES
There are three primary types of temperature variation that may occur within a temperature-sensitive supply chain. It is important to note that all three of these types of variation may affect the product concurrently – and one factor or root cause may be responsible for more than one type of variation. However, for the purpose of understanding the causes of temperature variation, developing monitoring protocols and rational strategies to minimise variation are useful tools in the separate examinations of each of the three types of temperature variation. |
