Case Study: Altru Health System achieves season‑round temperature‑controlled medication delivery with Zebra PPQ testing

Specialty Pharmacy Uses Zebra's Package Performance Qualification (PPQ) Solution to Monitor Medications in its Shipping Packouts

Altru Specialty Pharmacy, part of Altru Health System serving North Dakota and parts of Minnesota, has grown since 2014 but faced a persistent challenge: maintaining medication temperature integrity in a region that ranges from -40°F to 100°F. To ensure drugs remain safe and effective in transit and to meet accreditation expectations, the pharmacy set out to evaluate and qualify its shipping packouts.

Altru engaged Zebra’s Package Performance Qualification (PPQ) testing, using internal and external wireless sensors to run two-phase tests (controlled cold and real-world shipments) that validated and refined cooler choices and packing methods. The testing standardized packout procedures, helped the pharmacy pass follow-up CRT and refrigerated tests, and supports URAC accreditation — delivering consistent, documented temperature control and renewed confidence that medications arrive on time and in good condition.

Altru Health System

Rosemary Kalenze

Outpatient Pharmacy Manager