Good practice advice
Our good practice advice will help you understand the area and prevent problems occurring.
Understanding why temperature management is important for medicines storage
Temperature control and monitoring of storage areas to avoid temperature excursions; ensuring medicines are fit for purpose at administration to patients
Monitoring the storage temperature of medicines
Good monitoring systems can help identify problems quickly so that action can be taken promptly to protect the medicines from temperature excursions
Temperature management for medicines storage
Temperature changes can affect medicines. Learn to manage temperature and act when temperature is outside the intended range.
Mapping the temperature of medicines storage areas
Temperature mapping is an exercise undertaken to ensure all points in storage area are suitable for keeping temperature sensitive medicines.
Establishing alerts for temperature monitoring systems
Systems that alert staff to an excursion allows for a rapid response and will minimise the time the medicine is outside of its recommended storage conditions
Using temperature sensors in medicines storage areas
Guidance on choosing temperature sensors, recording data from them and requirements for their calibration
Managing temperature excursions
Where temperature excursions occur, follow a defined process to manage and mitigate the effects on medicines
Temperature control whilst transporting medicines
Managing the temperature of medicines during transport (short term storage) is as important as it is during long term storage
Storing medicines at ambient temperatures
Taking steps to control and monitor ambient storage areas ensures that medicines are fit for purpose at the point of administration to patients
Using a refrigerator or freezer to store medicines
Appropriately chosen, well set-up, maintained and monitored fridges and freezers ensures medicines are fit for purpose at administration to patients
Advice on COVID-19 vaccines
Maintaining the COVID-19 vaccines cold chain
Correct storage of the vaccine ensures its efficacy and the cold chain must be maintained during storage and transportation