title: Microwave freeze-thaw technique of injectable drugs. A review from 1980 to 2014.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Microwave freeze-thaw treatment (MFTT) of injectable drugs can support the development of centralized intravenous admixtures services (CIVAS). The aim of the review is to collect information and results about this method.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of the scientific literature about injectable drug stability studies was performed. The data are presented in a table and describe name of the drug, producer, final concentration, temperature and time of freezing storage, type of microwave oven, thawing power, method of dosage and results after treatment or final long-term storage at 5±3 °C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1980 to 2014, 59 drugs were studied by MFTT and the results were presented in 49 publications. Forty papers were presented by 8 teams (2 to 18 by team). The temperatures of freezing storage vary from -70 °C to -10 °C, the time storage from 4 hours to 12 months, the thaw from low to full power. Dosages are mainly made by high performance liquid chromatography. Most of the 59 drugs are stable during and after treatment. Only 3 teams have tested the long-term stability after MFTT, the first for ganciclovir after 7 days, the second for ceftizoxime after 30 days and the third for 19 drugs after 11 to 70 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review can help CIVAS to take in charge the productions of ready-to-use injectable drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of hospital pharmacy, university hospital of Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium; Drug stability research group, Louvain drug research institute, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: jean-daniel.hecq@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: J-D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hecq
authors.affiliation: Medical laboratory, university hospital of Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium; Drug stability research group, Louvain drug research institute, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Godet
authors.affiliation: Scientific support unit, university hospital of Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium; Drug stability research group, Louvain drug research institute, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jamart
authors.affiliation: Medical laboratory, university hospital of Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium; Drug stability research group, Louvain drug research institute, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galanti
mesh_terms: D004339:Drug Compounding; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage; D005615:Freezing; D007267:Injections; D008872:Microwaves; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D013696:Temperature
keywords: CIVAS; Compounding; Drug stability; Décongélation par micro-ondes; Hospital pharmacy; Intravenous infusion; Microwave freeze-thaw treatment; Perfusion intraveineuse; Pharmacie hospitalière; Préparations médicamenteuses; Stabilité des médicaments; Unités centrales de reconstitution d’injectables