Gel ice packs for medicine and vaccines
With gel ice packs for medicine, it comes down to one thing: keeping the shipment cool without meltwater getting on the packaging. An ice pack is a sealed bag of gel, also known as a gel pack. It gives off no water when it thaws, and that makes it suitable for medicines, insulin and blood samples traveling by mail or by air. Below you will read what the pack does, which sizes are available and where your own responsibility begins.
What does an ice pack do for medicines and vaccines?
An ice pack for vaccines or medicines works passively. You freeze the pack, place it in the insulated packaging and the whole keeps the shipment cool. The cooling depends on the combination with the box or bag and on the environment the shipment travels through.
In our product data, ice packs are mentioned for transporting temperature-sensitive products such as vaccines, insulin and blood samples. They are sealed, leak-proof and non-toxic. If a pack is damaged, the gel stays in the bag, so no moisture is released that could affect the packaging or the contents. For pharma shipments that is a practical advantage over loose ice.
For ice packs for vaccines the same products apply as for ice packs for medicines: the flexible gel pack in 200 to 1,000 g.
Why a gel pack for pharma and not crushed ice?
Crushed ice melts and leaves water behind. A gel pack for pharma avoids that, because the gel stays solid. That is why they are used for air transport and for mail shipping of medicines, where crushed ice cannot be used.
Gel ice packs for shipping are also flexible. They fit in boxes and bags, and they can be used several times thanks to the thick PE material. Combine them with an EPS box or an insulated shipping bag: the insulation and the pack together determine how long the shipment stays cool.
Which ice packs do you choose for a medicine shipment?
These are four of the six weights:
| Weight | Size | Per master carton | Suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 g | 120 x 150 mm | 80 pcs | Boxes or bags |
| 400 g | 120 x 210 mm | 40 pcs | Refrigerated shipments with a longer cooling time |
| 500 g | 120 x 220 mm | 35 pcs | Refrigerated shipping of food or medical products |
| 1,000 g | 150 x 275 mm | 18 pcs | Longer transit times and larger volumes |
Would you also like a rigid version? Then there are cooling elements for medicine in 200, 400 and 750 g. They have a sturdy plastic housing and can be reused hundreds of times. In daily logistics processes, rigid cooling elements are used more often than gel packs. You can read the difference in our article rigid cooling element or gel pack.
Cold packs for pharma: where does your own responsibility begin?
With a cold pack for pharma, we do not promise conformity with GDP or with other guidelines. Two points:
- A gel pack gives off 0 °C. What suits your product is for you to determine.
- The cooling time is not a fixed value.
An example from our product data: a 400 g gel pack in a thick-walled EPS box stayed well below freezing after 12 hours at a constant ambient temperature of 25 °C, and still below 0 °C after 24 hours. The temperature stayed below 0 °C for up to about 30 hours and below 8 °C for up to 48 hours. That is a measurement for that one setup, not a promise for yours. You can read more about the approach in our article on shipping medicines refrigerated.
Frequently asked questions about ice packs for medicine
Are ice packs suitable for vaccines?
Ice packs are used for transporting temperature-sensitive products such as vaccines, insulin and blood samples. We do not state any certification or guarantee for your vaccine.
Does a gel pack for pharma leak if the bag is damaged?
The gel stays in the packaging. No loose water is released that could affect the packaging or the contents. The gel is non-toxic.
What is the difference between cooling elements for medicine and a gel pack for pharma?
A cooling element has a sturdy plastic housing and can be reused hundreds of times. A gel pack is a flexible bag of PE with gel.
Ordering ice packs for medicine
All sizes are available straight from stock, from our own production since 1972. Order by 14:00 and the order ships the same day. Take a look at the ice packs or first read more about shipping vaccines and biological medicines cool.
You will find all names for this product in our glossary.
