Many products whether they be pharmaceutical, medical or food are susceptible to damage if they are not stored and transported at the correct temperature . Vaccines, for example, can be seriously damaged if not stored and transported within the approved temperature range . And, once potency has been lost through exposure to heat or cold, it cannot be regained by returning the vaccine to the recommended temperature. In many cases, there is no apparent change in the products external appearance .

To provide the user with a level of confidence that the product they are receiving has been treated properly during storage and transport, a storage, packaging and monitoring method must be designed to protect the product at all times .

Typically, from the inside out the package method is composed of the following :

Product ; which may include on or more individual containers .                                                                                   

Indicator ; to monitor the product temperature ( warm or cold ) in the container .                            

Refrigerant packs ; pre-heated or cooled to provide an environment ideally suited to the product

Dry ice ; for products required to be kept frozen but which are not affected by extremely cold temperatures

Absorbent material ; to collect and contain any excess moisture which may be produced by ‘sweating’

Plastic liner ; acts as a vapor barrier

Insulated container ; typically a polystyrene molded box used to provide insulation between the product and the external environment .

Corrugated box ; to protect the polystyrene from damage during handling and shipping .