What types of temperatures are required to be recorded in the pharmacy?

The requirement to record current, maximum, and minimum temperatures in a pharmacy is vital for maintaining the integrity of medications, particularly those that are temperature-sensitive, such as vaccines and certain biologics. Current temperature provides an immediate snapshot of the environment, ensuring that it is within acceptable limits for storage.

Recording maximum and minimum temperatures is equally important since it helps identify any potential excursions outside the safe temperature range that may have occurred during a specific time period. These fluctuations can occur due to various reasons, such as equipment malfunction or loss of power, and could compromise the effectiveness of stored medications if not documented and addressed.

By capturing all three types of temperatures—current, maximum, and minimum—pharmacies can ensure compliance with regulatory standards, safeguard medication quality, and effectively respond to any temperature-related issues. This comprehensive approach to temperature monitoring is critical in providing safe and effective pharmaceutical care.