Transportation of protein drugs at hospital: Comparison of mechanical stress occurring during pneumatic transportation and hand-carried transport

In this study, we quantitatively characterize the mechanical shock generated in the pneumatic transport systems (PTS) in our center, determine the PTS pipeline with the highest risk of mechanical stress, and compare these results with hand-carried transport by trolleys or transportation boxes. Acceleration measurements were performed in triplicate for each of the five departments using a 3-axis accelerometer, which was fixed to three distinct experimental bags and a syringe. We measured the area under the curve (AUC) of the acceleration distribution with a threshold of 2 g, and the number of acceleration peaks (NAP) from >3 to 15 g-forces. The data obtained were calculated using bilateral Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney non-parametric tests. The AUC and NAP_3–15 g-forces for PTS were significantly greater than those for hand-carried transport by trolley and box (p < 0.001), which did not show any peak above the NAP₁₀. The PTS pipeline with more curves and redirection airlocks had the highest risk of mechanical stress, whereas no difference was observed per type of container. Transport by trolley had significantly greater (p < 0.001) AUC, NAP₃, and NAP₅ than by box. Our results indicate that there is greater mechanical stress arising during PTS transportation than during hand-carried transport, preferentially in transportation boxes.