Controlled Drug Denaturing Kits

Controlled drugs returned by patients, part-used ampoules and expired stock cannot go into clinical waste as they are. They have to be denatured first, so that the medication is irretrievable before it leaves the premises. These kits, known in the trade as doom kits or doop jars, do that in one step at the point of disposal.

Each kit contains Drugshel™, our own denaturing powder. Half fill the jar with medication, shake, top up with water and shake again for thirty seconds; the contents set into a blue semi-solid gel that encapsulates the drugs. The gel is coloured, smells unpleasant and carries a bitter tasting additive, all of which deter anyone from attempting to retrieve or consume it. Drugshel™ contains no harmful chemicals and is neither toxic nor carcinogenic. Store the activated jar in the controlled drugs cabinet for 48 hours, then hand it to an authorised medical waste contractor.

Sizes run from 30ml to 10 litres. The 30ml and 100ml kits are supplied in packs of ten and suit ambulances, veterinary visits and dispensing at ward level, where single ampoules are denatured as they arise. The 250ml and 500ml jars fit a community pharmacy or GP surgery. From 1 litre upward they are the usual choice for hospital pharmacies, care homes and prison healthcare, where returns are bulked up between collections. A 1 litre pouch version is also listed here for sites working to reduce plastic.