Cochrane Database Syst Rev
Does insulin really need to be chilled?
It’s possible to store unopened short‐acting or intermediate‐acting insulin vials and cartridges at temps up to 25°C for 6 months max—and up to 37°C for 2 months max—without clinically meaningful loss of potency, according to manufacturer-generated data from several studies.
- Manufacturers typically recommend refrigerated storage for unopened human insulin vials, flasks, and cartridges; they also recommend avoiding sunlight as well as freezing. Once opened, storage recommendations vary regarding max temperature and durations at room temperature.
- Locations impacted by power outages, including natural disasters, war conditions, and extreme heat, pose challenges to manufacturer storage recommendations.
- One small study investigated insulin storage for 6 weeks in an unglazed clay pot, as a cooling method in lieu of refrigeration, yielding temps between 25°C and 27°C inside the pot. Authors reported that 8 volunteers who injected clay-pot-stored insulin experienced similar glucose-lowering compared with refrigerated insulin.
- Further data are warranted on mixed insulin types as well as insulin pumps, colder climate conditions, and effects on sterility.
Source:
Richter B, et al. (2023, Nov 6). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Thermal stability and storage of human insulin. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37930742/