manual on management of drugs

vi. Validity expired, sub-standard, quality suspect (withheld and or
withdrawn) drugs should be stored separately in a demarcated area. Such
drugs should be identified giving necessary information.
6. Cold Storage
Vaccines, sera and all other thermoliable pharmaceuticals should be stored in
cool rooms/ refrigerators to maintain the temperatures specified by the
manufacturer. Generally the temperature range is +2 o C to + 8 o C, unopened
oral polio vaccine which should be stored below 0 o C
For proper storage of vaccines /sera etc. it is important to follow the following
guidelines.
i. Selection of suitable refrigerators.
ii. Avoid small, poorly ventilated rooms for refrigerators/freezers as they
produce heat.
iii. Space units away from walls to provide good ventilation. Refrigerators/
freezers should be spaced at least 20cm away from walls and 30cm
away from other equipment and they should be mounted about 10cm
above floor level.
iv. To ensure stable electricity supply, plugs and switches should be taped
permanently with adhesive tape to wall outlets, and power supply
should be connected to the generator supply power line.
v. Performance of the generator should be checked periodically.
vi. A temperature chart should be maintained for each refrigerator/freezer
daily at 9.30am and 3.30pm (specimen form annexed can be used for
this purpose).
vii. Refrigerator thermometer should be placed in the middle part of the
main chamber and the accuracy of the thermometer should be checked
periodically.
viii. Defrosting of refrigerator/freezers should be done at least once a week
on a specific day and/or whenever necessary. (Maintaining and signing
of such records are very important).
ix. It is very necessary to check, record and sign the indicators of vaccine
vial monitors and cold chain monitors when receiving supplies.( a
register should be maintained for this purpose and these records should
be kept in a separate file.)
x. Ordering of stocks should be done based on the availability of storage
space. It is advisable to provide 25% storage space for air circulation.
46