BDT 251Basic Dispensing Theory II
Unit Dose Dispensing and Packaging Materials
9 minute read
What you will learn
- Explain the concept of a unit dose dispensing system
- State the importance, advantages and disadvantages of the system
- Compare unit dose dispensing with other ways of supplying medicines to wards
- Identify the packaging materials used for medicines
- Match the right packaging to each type of preparation
Key points
- In a unit dose dispensing system, each dose is supplied as a separate, labelled package that is ready to give to the patient.
- The curriculum calls it UDSS. It is mainly used for in-patients in hospitals.
- Its main benefits are fewer medication errors, less waste, better stock control and better patient safety.
- Its main costs are extra staff, equipment, space and time in the pharmacy.
- Packaging materials include glass, plastic, metal, paper and board, and rubber closures.
- Primary packaging touches the medicine. Secondary packaging is the outer carton.
- Match the pack to the product: amber glass for light-sensitive liquids, tubes for ointments, ampoules and vials for injections.
The unit dose dispensing system
A unit dose dispensing system supplies each dose of a medicine as its own separate, labelled package, ready to be given to the patient. The curriculum calls it UDSS.
It is mainly used in hospitals for in-patients. The pharmacy prepares the doses and sends them to the ward, usually in a labelled tray or cassette for each patient. The nurse takes the dose from the package and gives it, with no counting, measuring or pouring on the ward.
Each unit dose package is labelled with the medicine's name and strength, and usually the batch number and expiry date, so the medicine can be identified right up to the moment it is given.
How it compares with other ways of supplying wards
| System | How it works | Main problem |
|---|---|---|
| Ward stock | Bulk containers of common medicines are kept on the ward | Easy to run short, easy to waste, and errors are more likely |
| Individual patient supply | A named container is supplied for each patient | Can leave a lot of leftover medicine after discharge |
| Unit dose | Pre-packed, labelled single doses for each patient | Needs more pharmacy staff, equipment and time |
Importance and advantages
- Fewer medication errors. Each dose is checked in the pharmacy, so a wrong dose or wrong medicine is less likely to reach the patient.
- Less waste. Only the doses that are needed are supplied. If a patient is discharged or the prescription changes, unopened doses can be returned and reused.
- Better stock control and accountability, because the pharmacy knows exactly what was supplied.
- Saves nurses' time, so they can spend more of it caring for patients.
- Safer for infection control. The medicine is not handled again on the ward.
- Easier to charge accurately for what the patient actually used.
- Helps patients take their medicines correctly, since each dose is ready to give.
Disadvantages
- It needs extra pharmacy staff, equipment and space.
- It takes more time and money to set up and run.
- Repacking a medicine into a new container can change how long it stays stable. Pharmacies set a shorter expiry date for repacked doses, so the packing material and expiry must be chosen carefully.
- It needs good records and clear organisation to work well.
Packaging materials
The container must protect the medicine until the patient has used it. The packaging that is in direct contact with the medicine is the primary packaging, such as a bottle, blister, tube or ampoule. The outer carton is secondary packaging.
Qualities of good packaging
Good packaging:
- protects the medicine from light, moisture, air, heat and germs;
- does not react with the medicine, absorb it or release harmful substances into it;
- is non-toxic;
- holds the label firmly;
- is easy and safe to use, and can show if it has been tampered with;
- is affordable.
The materials
| Material | Used for | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass (clear or amber) | Liquids, injections, some tablets | Does not react with most medicines, see-through, can be sealed well. Amber glass protects against light. | Heavy and breakable |
| Plastic (polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, PVC) | Bottles, jars, blisters, droppers, squeeze bottles | Light, unbreakable, cheap, can be moulded into many shapes | Some let in moisture or air, and some can absorb or react with certain medicines |
| Metal (aluminium) | Collapsible tubes, foil strips and blisters, aerosol cans | Strong barrier to light, moisture and air | Can react with some products unless it is lined |
| Paper and board | Cartons, powder papers, sachets, leaflets | Cheap, easy to print on | Gives little protection against moisture unless waxed or coated |
| Rubber | Stoppers for vials, dropper teats | Flexible, seals well | Can absorb some medicines or release substances into them |
Matching the pack to the preparation
| Preparation | Suitable packaging |
|---|---|
| Tablets and capsules | Blister packs, foil strips, or plastic or glass bottles. Moisture-sensitive products may include a desiccant (a drying agent in a small bag, which must not be swallowed). |
| Powders | Wide-mouth jars or tubs, or waxed papers and sachets for divided powders |
| Dusting powders | Containers with a sifter top |
| Oral liquids | Glass or plastic bottles with a tight cap. Use amber bottles for light-sensitive products. A measuring cup or spoon is often included. |
| Eye, ear and nasal drops | Small plastic or glass dropper bottles. Eye drops are sterile and must be used within the time on the label after opening. |
| Ointments and creams | Collapsible aluminium or plastic tubes, or wide-mouth jars |
| Suppositories and pessaries | Foil or plastic strips |
| Injections | Glass ampoules (sealed single-dose containers) or vials with rubber stoppers |
| Aerosols and inhalers | Pressurised metal cans fitted with a valve |
Closures
- Child-resistant closures reduce the risk of children swallowing medicines. Use them unless the patient is unable to open them and asks for an easy-open cap.
- Tamper-evident seals show whether a pack has been opened.
- Tight, well-fitting caps keep out air and moisture.
Exam focus
- Define the unit dose system and give two advantages. This is a common short-answer question.
- Know which material suits which preparation. Learn the table below.
- Know why amber glass is used and what a desiccant does.
- Common mistake: mixing up primary packaging (in contact with the medicine) with secondary packaging (the outer carton).
Quick check
Test yourself before you move on. Pick an answer to see the explanation.
1.In a unit dose dispensing system, medicine is supplied as:
2.Which is a main benefit of a unit dose dispensing system?
3.Which container best protects a light-sensitive liquid?
4.Ointments and creams are usually packed in:
5.The packaging that is in direct contact with the medicine is called: