Dessiflex®: innovative medical packaging for diagnostic applications

The healthcare industry is constantly under pressure to provide products that are not only necessary for the welfare of the population, but that also respond to the latest clinical advances. Technology, automation and the drive for personalized care is reshaping the diagnostics space. Medical care has shifted its focus towards rapid early detection and prompt treatment to improve outcomes and control healthcare costs. The demand for point-of-care (POC) testing is a key factor in the proliferation of In-Vitro Diagnostic (IVDs) devices. IVDs can help speed up diagnosis allowing healthcare providers to make faster and better decisions, preventing the spread of infectious diseases and mitigating unnecessary procedures.

IVDs are highly sensitive to their environment and moisture is often the biggest challenge to the functionality of the product. The packaging materials therefore play a critical role to ensure the safety and performance of the device at the point of use. The latest innovation from Amcor directly responds to this growing customer need.

The patented Dessiflex® technology was initially designed to protect moisture-sensitive pharmaceuticals that needed to be kept in extremely dry conditions, ensuring that their quality and efficacy were not compromised. This unique technology is now being used to make further improvements in the protection and usability of IVD and POC test devices.

Dessiflex eliminates the need for additional moisture scavengers

Many IVD products require both high barrier packaging and a desiccant sachet to ensure shelf life. The inclusion of a desiccant sachet alongside the device can affect usability.

Through our patented Dessiflex® laminate, we have incorporated the desiccant into the packaging’s sealant layer, which means we can now provide a practical, contamination-free moisture protection solution for our customers.

This desiccant sealant layer eliminates the need to include separate desiccants or moisture scavengers, which are usually in the form of dry clay, contained in non-woven sachets. This simplifies the packaging process as there are fewer components to pack and reduces the risk of contamination when opening a Dessiflex® package in a sterile environment.

Improved productivity and increased safety

Dessiflex® uses a chemical desiccant combined with an aluminum layer that protects products against humidity, gas and UV. Unlike other desiccants, Dessiflex will not release moisture back into the packing even under the harshest conditions, such as high temperatures or high altitudes.

Removing the need to physically insert a desiccant sachet is where customers see the real benefit. This effectively eliminates a whole step of the production process, reduces complexity and inventory as well as the need for the corresponding quality checks. The streamlined packaging also reduces the packaging’s environmental footprint by decreasing the pack size. Dessiflex® technology has enhanced sealing capabilities allowing for faster packaging speeds. The combined impact of these benefits facilitates a streamlined and more cost-efficient manufacturing process as well as a safer and easier to use device.

Dessiflex® is available now and is a proven technology used across a wide range of products within the healthcare industry, to protect and ensure the integrity of moisture sensitive devices and pharmaceuticals.

Find out more about our full heathcare packaging range here.

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