The importance of temperature control in shipping pharmaceuticals cannot be understated. But despite the use of high-tech cool-chain airport facilities, there is a potential weak point in every pharma supply chain, where ULDs leave cool-chain storage facilities and sit on the tarmac before being loaded into aircraft.
To ensure the integrity of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products, including blood plasma, tablets and anesthetics, Etihad Cargo has developed TempCheck, a new cargo service that can maintain a narrow temperature range, even outside the cool chain facility.
The service involves the combination of a passive, pre-cooledthermal ULD covering, which envelops the outside of an actively cooledULD, and the use of cool-room facilities and temperature-controlled aircraft cargo holds. Containers handled by this service, Etihad said,are prioritized for expedited processing, with transfer times in the ambient airof no longer than 40 minutes.
To meet increased demand for perishable good, Etihad is also in the process of upgrading its temperature-controlled ULD storage facilities in Abu Dhabi, and refurbishing its existing cool rooms to meet pharma-safe specifications. New facilities nearing completion for pharmaceutical storage will be ready before summer.
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