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Quick tip: Don't date multi-dose vials

Pharmacy Regulation Resource, January 15, 2004

Check the manufacturer's expiration date for the storage recommendations because pharmacies may waste drugs that are still useable, says Bud Pate, BA, REHS, a consultant with The Greeley Company, a division of HCPro.

Many pharmacies make a rule that once staff open a multi-dose vial, it is only good for one month. For example, a pharmacist draws up individual vials of insulin from a 10 ml vial. The pharmacist then records the date he or she opened the vial and sets an expiration date of 30 days.

The 30-day rule isn't always valid, Pate says. The drug may be used for more than 30 days after opening, but make sure it is stored properly and make a note of the expiration date.

TIP: Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for both storage requirements and expiration dates. If the manufacturer says the drug may be used for more than 30 days after opening, make sure it is stored properly and make a note of the expiration date. For instance, insulin can be used for more than 30 days after opening if staff store it in a refrigerator.

Be aware that some medications do expire quickly, though. For example, purified protein derivative, a tuberculosis test reagent, expires soon after use, Pate says.

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