|
Will Anti-Anthrax Radiation Harm Mail Order Medicines? |
 |
If You Receive Prescription Medicines By Mail, Are They at Risk?
by Mary J. Shomon and Louise Shapiro
Many Americans now receive prescription drugs by mail order, and in fact, some HMOS and insurance companies require that any non-emergency prescriptions be filled by centralized mail order pharmacies affiliated with their companies. But, with the increasing use of the mail to fulfill prescription orders, will the Post Office's new method of "sanitizing" the mail with high-dose radiation, in light of the recent anthrax scare, have any effect on the potency of the prescription medications you receive by mail?
Dave Perkins, the Director of Medical Information at pharmaceutical company Genzyme Corporation, stated that their distributors generally deliver one of their key products, Thyrogen, via Federal Express, and was under the impression, although he could not confirm, that FedEx is not radiating their packages like the US Postal Service is. Therefore, he assumed that at this time, all Thyrogen delivered via this special carrier should be in the same condition as it was when it left the distributor.
FedEx Senior Communications Specialist, Jennifer McGowan, had this comment: "As a rule, FedEx does not talk [publicly] about their security measures. This is how we're able to maintain our high level of security, which exceeds industry standards." She referred all those who are concerned about the safety of their FedEx delivered packages to the "FedEx Safety and Security Update" page of their website.
Sunny Willmington, from Western Research Laboratories, manurfacturer of Naturethroid, stated that one of their consulting pharmacists felt that if radiated, the low level of contaminant-specific radiation used by the Postal Service would pose no threat to the potency of their medications.
A Professional Affairs representative from another pharmaceutical company, Forest Pharmaceuticals stated "there are no studies regarding radiation effects in mail processing being conducted here." She also stated that she was unaware of any plans for this type of study, and directed all those concerned to the US Postal Service's "Security of the Mail" website page.
The following official statement from the USPS can be found at their website.
The Postal Service is working with the mailing industry to develop procedures to ensure that sanitization of the mail will not damage sensitive items in the mail. Sanitization technology is currently being tested on a wide range of film products, digital and magnetic storage devices, laboratory samples, food and plant products, and "smart" credit cards with embedded chips to ensure that all business mail can be safely processed through the postal system.
Should you be concerned about your medication? Probably not, because, according to Postal Inspector Dan Mihalko, who was contacted in a phone interview, only government mail addressed to Capitol Hill is currently being sanitized prior to delivery.
Says Mihalko, "The USPS is currently working on methods to seperate mail into two streams; mail from a known carrier, such as a pharmacy, and 'letter' mail. Mail from known carriers would not need to be sanitized."
He stated that wide-use procedures have not been finalized or implemented yet, and when they are, only the larger processing facilities will be equipped to sanitize, as opposed to your local postal office.
YOU CAN STAY INFORMED ON THE LATEST THYROID DISEASE INFORMATION
Whether it's a free email newsletter or report about thyroid disease, the latest books that help you live well with your thyroid condition, or support and information from fellow thyroid patients, you'll find a variety of resources here at the About Thyroid site.
