Ancillary Kitting: More than Just Packing Boxes
Some Sponsors assume they can cut costs or gain flexibility by shipping ancillary supplies in bulk to investigator sites. While this may seem efficient, ancillary kitting is far more than a logistical task. It is a strategic function that directly impacts patient safety, data quality, and regulatory compliance.
When sites are left to pull supplies from bulk inventory for each patient visit, Sponsors risk delays, inconsistencies, and quality failures that can compromise trial timelines and outcomes. Without centralized expertise and infrastructure, “hunting and gathering” becomes a source of risk rather than a point of control.
Here’s why relying on sites to source ancillary supplies directly is not a best practice.
Kitting Is a Strategy, Not a Packing Task
Effective ancillary kitting begins long before any items are packed. It involves upstream protocol alignment, global regulatory knowledge, and precise inventory planning and end-to-end supply chain coordination.
This complexity demands more than a logistics vendor. It requires a partner with the infrastructure and expertise to execute kitting with accuracy and reliability.
A qualified ancillary kitting partner must be:
- GxP compliant, with established SOPs and ongoing quality audits
- Built for operational excellence and packaging integrity
- Experienced in country-specific import regulations and labeling standards
Ancillare meets all these requirements. Our regulatory and quality collaborate with Sponsors to ensure every kit meets trial- and country-specific requirements, reducing the risk of delays, noncompliance, and site burden.
Why Site-Assembled Kits Create More Risk Than Reward
When Sponsors ship bulk supplies to clinical sites for local assembly, they introduce uncontrolled variables that can derail the trial. Most clinical sites are not equipped or staffed to handle kit assembly onsite with the oversight and compliance required.
Common risks of site-assembled kits include:
- Increased workload for site employees, distracting from patient care
- Kit content variations that lead to protocol deviations
- Improper storage or inventory handling, including expired supplies
- Customs delays and rejections due to inaccurate documentation
- Lack of visibility and tracking once supplies leave the Sponsor
What appears to be a flexible or cost-saving solution often leads to inefficiencies, compliance issues, and increased patient risk.
Strategic Kitting Begins with Purposeful Design
True strategic kitting aligns directly with protocol requirements, enrollment forecasts, and site-specific needs. At Ancillare, we bring structure and predictability to the process with:
- Protocol-driven kit configurations, customized by region or visit
- Demand planning based on real-time enrollment and usage data
- Centralized inventory with GDP-compliant storage
- On-demand kitting to support resupply or urgent site needs
- Expert supply selection through our Medical Supply Consulting team
- Global network and specialized teams versed in country-specific requirements
While one box might seem like it can hold everything, many items require unique handling or packaging, and not all supplies are compatible. Expiration tracking must also be carefully managed.
This integrated approach ensures that clinical sites receive the right supplies at the right time for the right patient — reducing waste, avoiding shortages, and eliminating overages.
Custom Ancillary Kits Built to Protocol, Not Pre-Packaged
No two clinical trials are alike, and neither are their ancillary supply needs. Ancillare designs and assembles fully customized ancillary kits tailored to protocol requirements, regional regulations, and patient visits.
We manage the full kit production and distribution process, leveraging our unmatched global network to deliver with speed, accuracy, and compliance. Our teams monitor both regional and global trends to help Sponsors anticipate challenges and build resilience into their supply plans.
By aligning each kit to the patient journey — not just a supply list — we ensure that clinical sites receive exactly what they need, when they need it, without unnecessary burden or waste.
Ancillare supports a wide range of kit types, including:
- Ancillary Trial Kits
- Blood Collection Kits
- Nursing Kits
- Patient Supply Kits
- Site Support Kits
- Lab Kits for Specimen Collection
As your single-source partner, we work collaboratively to implement flexible, scalable solutions — simplifying the complexity of clinical trial supply while increasing site efficiency and Sponsor confidence.
Kitting with Ancillare: A Strategic Advantage
Ancillary kitting is not a background task; it is a strategic component that can advance or delay your clinical trial. When done right, it brings clarity, consistency, and control to a complex global supply chain.
Working with Ancillare makes it easy to alleviate site burden through expertly sourced and assembled kits, built to your exact specifications and designed to support every aspect of the patient’s journey.
Ancillare is more than a service provider. We are a strategic partner, purpose-built to support Sponsors and CROs across the full clinical trial supply chain. Our kitting solutions are compliant, customizable, and aligned for global execution to help Sponsors move faster, reduce risk, and stay focused on clinical trial success
Ready to Elevate your Ancillary Kitting Strategy?
Partner with Ancillare to streamline trial execution and gain control over one of the most overlooked — yet critical — components of the clinical trial supply chain.
