Transporting Chemotherapy Drugs: Ensuring the Cold Chain with the ONCO Line and the CTS1000

The transport of cytotoxic drugs poses a major logistical and safety challenge for in-house pharmacies, hospitals, and home healthcare providers.

In the field of oncology, the treatments being transported may have specific requirements regarding physicochemical stability and handling. Adhering to the transport conditions defined for each product is therefore essential to preserve their integrity and ensure their safe delivery to the treatment unit.

To address these challenges, combining appropriate isothermal transport solutions with a traceability system allows for better control of environmental conditions throughout the entire transport route. It is with this in mind that the ONCO product line is paired with the CTS1000 data logger.

The ONCO Line for the Safe Transport of Chemotherapy Drugs

The ONCO line of combined insulated bags is specifically designed to ensure the safe transport of chemotherapy drugs.

It includes two models to meet different capacity needs:

• MFSA-ONCO-04: 18-liter capacity;
• MFSA-ONCO-06: 37-liter capacity.

These solutions feature a multi-layer design combining a rigid inner box made of expanded polypropylene and an outer wrap-around bag made of expanded polyethylene.

This combination of materials provides thermal insulation suited to the demands of transporting sensitive products. According to the test conditions specified for this equipment, the internal temperature can be maintained for 14 to 17 hours, even when external temperatures range from -12°C to +40°C.

A triple-packaging system to enhance safety

Transport safety also relies on a triple-packaging principle designed to minimize the risks associated with transporting these products.

The system includes:

• a first sealed bag designed to minimize the risk of leakage;
• a secondary rigid container made of transparent polycarbonate, which is impact-resistant and autoclavable up to 121°C;
• an outer insulated bag that protects and insulates the entire package.

This design combines physical protection, thermal insulation, and secure transport organization.

Temperature stabilizers set to +4°C

The lid of the ONCO models features a compartment specifically designed to hold temperature stabilizers set to +4°C.

These stabilizers use Phase Change Materials (PCMs), designed to absorb and release thermal energy during their phase change.

They thus help maintain the desired temperature conditions inside the container during transport.

CTS1000: Monitoring Temperature and Humidity During Transport

To complement the thermal protection provided by ONCO containers, the integration of a data logger such as the CTS1000 allows for the monitoring of environmental conditions during transport.

The compact CTS1000 can be placed directly inside the container to continuously monitor temperature and humidity.

It features the following specifications:

• IP68-certified waterproof housing;
• typical temperature accuracy of ±0.2°C;
• capacity for at least 172,000 data points;
• up to 120 days of history with one measurement per minute;
• simultaneous monitoring of temperature and humidity.

This recording capacity provides a detailed history of the conditions encountered during transport and facilitates the use of this information for quality monitoring.

View data without opening the container

The CTS1000 also features Low Energy wireless connectivity paired with a dedicated app.

This allows teams to view the data and examine temperature and humidity graphs without necessarily having to open the shipping container.

This feature is particularly valuable for the cold chain, as it allows access to recorded information while minimizing the number of times the container is opened, which could affect internal temperature conditions.

Combining Thermal Protection and Digital Traceability

The combination of ONCO insulated bags, phase-change temperature stabilizers, and the CTS1000 provides multiple layers of protection.

Physical protection of the product, maintenance of temperature conditions, and recording of environmental data all contribute to better control over the transport of sensitive treatments.

Medical, pharmaceutical, and logistics teams thus have access to information that allows them to monitor the conditions experienced by the products during transit.

Medifroid, solutions dedicated to the transport of sensitive healthcare products

Medifroid develops solutions tailored to the storage and transport challenges faced by healthcare facilities and pharmacies.

With the ONCO line and the CTS1000, Medifroid combines thermal insulation, product protection, and digital traceability to help professionals ensure the safe transport of sensitive medications, particularly in the field of oncology.

From storage to transport, this approach helps ensure better continuity of the cold chain and facilitates the monitoring of environmental conditions all the way to the point of care.