Get swift visual assurance that the product has maintained the proper temperature
Key Takeaways:
- Storing, shipping, and distributing temperature-sensitive medical products is risky.
- Some vaccines and drugs break down molecularly if kept at improper temperatures.
- Patient safety can be compromised.
- Thermochromic labels offer quick, visual assurance that products are safe and effective.
Strict temperature control in healthcare logistics is crucial. The integrity and efficacy of medical products, including drugs, reagents, vaccines, bodily fluids, and even devices, are at stake. Temperature fluctuations during transit, storage, or distribution can render products less effective or, in worse-case scenarios, dangerous or completely useless. Risks abound, from patient safety to financial losses.
Regulatory compliance is another issue. The FDA, the European Union, and other countries have specific guidelines for maintaining the integrity of temperature-sensitive medical products. Temperature control across the entire healthcare supply chain is also critical to preventing and controlling disease outbreaks. Some vaccines, such as those for COVID-19, become ineffective if specific temperatures are not kept.
There’s much at stake, and while proper packaging, temperature-controlled storage, and vehicles are important, they can’t guarantee that products maintain proper temperature throughout the journey to the end user. What to do? There’s a simple solution – thermochromic labels from SpotSee.
Why Temperature Matters
It can’t be overemphasized: failure to maintain the proper temperature of some healthcare products can render them useless. When exposed to inappropriate temperatures, the molecular structures of certain medications and products can break down.
Insulin, antibiotics, eye drops, ear drops, nasal sprays, and oral drops require refrigeration at specified temperatures. This also applies to monoclonal antibodies, interferon, and other injections. Dialyzers that are re-used for the same patient must be refrigerated immediately after use or discarded.
Other medications, including the chickenpox vaccine, shingles vaccine, RNA and DNA samples, and blood and plasma products, must be kept at -20°C (-4°F) or colder.
You need a quick, accurate method to determine that your products are safe and effective at a glance, and thermochromic labels are the ideal solution.
What Are Thermochromic Labels, and How Do They Work?
Thermochromic labels use thermochromic ink, which changes color when exposed to temperature changes. This tech appears in products like beer cans that change color to indicate the brew is adequately chilled and in novelty items like T-shirts that change color when exposed to body heat. While plenty of consumer product examples exist, the ink also has applications in supply chain safety.
Leucodyes are the secret behind thermochromic label. These organic, carbon-based chemicals change color when subjected to a change in temperature. Labels have various trigger points at which a color change will occur, warning you that the product has been exposed to unacceptable temperatures. Thermochromic labels offer an easy-to-see guarantee that the product is safe to use. Labels are available in both cold-activated and heat-activated versions.
In the healthcare supply chain, thermochromic labels are invaluable. They can be applied to medical containers and storage units to ensure the proper temperature is maintained for efficacy and safety.
The Advantages of Thermochromic Labels
Safety cannot be presumed when storing, shipping, and distributing medical products. Thermochromic labels:
- Show a color change that means quick, visual verification that temperature integrity has been maintained.
- Integrate seamlessly into your current labeling process.
- Are right-sized at 1” x 2-5/8”.
- Prevent waste.
- Ensure patient safety.
SpotSee cold-activated thermochromic labels are available in three colors: yellow to green, yellow to red, and pink to purple. The color change happens when the product is exposed to cooler temperatures of 15°C (59°F) or below. Simply peel and apply.
Ensure Efficacy and Safety
Mitigate risks, ensure patient safety, and safeguard the bottom line quickly and easily with SpotSee Thermochromic labels. For more than 50 years, SpotSee has been designing innovative products that reduce both mishandling and costs. Learn more about our products and how we can help you – contact us today for more information.
