There are several options available for medical packaging design and materials. Since it’s important to be able to accurately identify the pharmaceutical supply chain, there are also track and trace options available. While this is important for clinical trials, it is also essential for storage and retrieval, particularly when these pharmaceuticals are housed in large facilities prior to shipment to hospitals, pharmacies, and other medical facilities.
Blister Packaging Options
Blister packaging has a cavity, or pocket, that is composed of a formable web. Some blister packages fold over and are referred to as “clamshells.” These features are designed to keep the products safer and protect them from becoming damaged while being shipped, transferred, or stored.
This type of packaging is commonly used within the pharmaceutical industry for a variety of reasons. In addition to containing single unit doses, these packages are also easy to open due to their laminated seals. Since blister packages also have PVC and foil combinations, they are more durable, which aids with shipping and storing.
Since blister packaging is available in vinyl, there are different options here as well. These include opaque, tinted, and translucent, which can assist with distinguishing between product contents. Customized color, style, and container options are also available. Given the importance of child safety, blister packaging can be adapted so that only adults are able to open these packages.
For quality control purposes, blister packaging companies offer other services. These include printing lot numbers and expiration dates directly on the product packages as well as their exterior containers.
High-speed blister packaging is another service that is offered by pharmaceutical packaging companies. This is beneficial when a large quantity of product needs to be packaged in a relatively short period of time.
Liquid Packaging Options
Liquid doses can be packaged in both bottles and pouches, or sachets. Pouches, in particular, can be easily opened and disposed of by consumers. In addition to being available with child safety features, these pouches can be ordered with strip seals and/or rip-and-tear features.
There are different types of caps available for pharmaceutical bottle packaging. These include child-safe caps as well as snap or twist-off caps.
Bottles are packaged with both liners and seals. These protect the contents from contamination by external substances as well as tampering.
As with blister and other types of pharmaceutical packaging, bottles can also be packaged with bar codes. This assists with accurate identification as well as storage and shipping.
The Clinical Trial Material Supply
Stringent guidelines and protocols need to be followed during clinical trial management. As a result, the clinical trial material supply needs to be properly labeled for identification purposes. Since custom labeling is available for a clinical trial material supply, this can also assist with storage, administration, and pharmaceutical track and trace purposes.
The Prevalence of Pharmaceutical Prescriptions
When individuals meet with their physicians, it’s common for some type of prescription drug to be prescribed and/or administered during 75.1% of these visits. Over the past 30 days, for example, 48.5% of people in the United States have taken a minimum of 1 prescription drug.
Given the need for and prevalence of pharmaceuticals for clinical trials and regular physician and hospital visits, it’s important to ensure that these products are safely contained and easy to identify.