POST 00684E : APPROACHES TO ELIMINATING FREEZING : A STUDY REPORT

POST 00684E : APPROACHES TO ELIMINATING FREEZING : A STUDY REPORT 9 June 2004 _______________________________ Carib Nelson (mailto:[email protected]) informs us of a study done at PATH. The full document "Approaches to Eliminating Freezing in Vaccine Carriers—Testing Report Summary—" can be downloaded from http://www.technet21.org/pdf_file/ltrp23340.pdf Size : 950KB _______________________________ Here is a study done by Lisa Tam and Jesse Schubert at PATH that could be interesting for TechNet readers. It looks at the problem of freezing in vaccine carriers and evaluates several solutions. An abstract follows. Carib ------------------------------- ABSTRACT Freezing of tetanus toxoid (TT), diptheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT), and hepatitis B vaccines can cause a loss of vaccine potency. Recent temperature studies have shown a significant amount of vaccine freezing during vaccine transport. In this laboratory study, the extent of freezing in vaccine carriers is quantified and several options for reducing vaccine freezing are explored. Freeze prevention methods included ice pack conditioning, water and ice packs used together, insulation barriers inserted within the vaccine carrier, cold-absorbing layers placed within the vaccine carrier, and use of phase change materials as ice packs or barriers. The simplest solutions offered the best combination of prevention of freezing, low cost, and minimal loss of cold life. Ice-pack conditioning and use of half ice-packs/half water-packs were successful strategies. Insulation and cold-absorption methods were less effective and more complicated. Any solution to eliminate freezing of vaccines will require training to increase awareness of the freezing problem and to implement revised operating procedures. ______________________________________________________________________________ Visit the TECHNET21 Website at http://www.technet21.org You will find instructions to subscribe, a direct access to archives, links to reference documents and other features. ______________________________________________________________________________ To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a message to : mailto:[email protected] Leave the subject area BLANK In the message body, write unsubscribe TECHNET21E ______________________________________________________________________________ The World Health Organization and UNICEF support TechNet21. The TechNet21 e-Forum is a communication/information tool for generation of ideas on how to improve immunization services. It is moderated by Claude Letarte and is hosted in cooperation with the Centre de coopération internationale en santé et développement, Québec, Canada (http://www.ccisd.org) ______________________________________________________________________________