Biologic ice in sandwich cooler melting on long flight journey

[ma73jon]

Hi All,

I have a biologic injection (Kevzara/Sarilumab) that I need to take on a long journey lasting about 28 hours including train journeys and 2 air flights.

In the past I have used an injection cooler which I bought from amazon which 2 small ice packs.

However I found that the ice warms up after about 3 hours and the injection is not cooled effectively after that.

Does anyone have any advice about any device or method I can use to keep the biologic cool on a long journey like this.

Thank you.

[Bootoo]

If it's just the 1 you are taking some biologicals can be left be left out of the fridge for up to 4 weeks. I'm on amgevita and that's ok for 2 weeks. Check on the leaflet for yours I'm sure it's 2 weeks as well.

[Runrig01]

I have a medipac bag, which has kept mine between 2-8 degrees for 14 hrs. You can buy them with a digital thermometer built in. You could ask on the flight if they would store an ice pack in the freezer. Mine can be left at room temperatures up to 31 degrees for 30 days. It used to be 25 degrees for 28 days, but has been amended. Worth checking, if your in an area that would be under the recommended max temperature

[KittyJ]

Here you go, you should have this information given with the meds but it says here 14 days at room temperature is ok.

kevzara.com/ra/staying-on-k...

[Titch55]

I am on Sarilumab and regularly take it away. It says on the leaflet it is safe to keep out of the fridge (room temperature up to 25 C) for up to 14 days. I have done this many times and use it on the set day.

[Chester1975]

ask the staff to pop it into the air craft fridge. Xx

[AgedCrone in reply to Chester1975]

As I have said before…please do not rely on aircraft fridges…if you have a transit stop the fridges are unplugged & REMOVED,….& even sans stops…they are so packed with necessities….there is rarely room for .passenger’s items .

[Stills]

I have a friend who uses a small thermos flask to keep meds in when travelling, puts ice in side and meds in waterproof bag.

Edit: and you an always get more ice

[Otto11]

Hi try looking at Medigenics cool bags. They have built in thermometers. I don’t use this myself as I don’t travel that far but I helped with the sizing of their large coolbag so that Click pens like Abatacept would fit. They are not cheap though.

[SheilaT3271]

I travelled recently with BA and they wouldn’t put the injection in the fridge but just said they could provide ice to pack it in - not very effective as the ice inevitably melts! However this was an 9 hour flight and I was told with my Kevzara that it could be out of the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

[ma73jon]

Thanks so much to all of you all your comments have been really helpful