Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine must be stored at approximately -70° C which only specialised freezers can provide. Large medical centres are the most likely to have the resources necessary for ultra-cold storage. It’s important the vaccine is kept at this low temperature in order to maintain its efficacy.
In clinics and hospitals, temperature and humidity values have the highest priority. Medicines and blood products, for example, need defined constant temperatures, in order not to spoil. Life support systems, on the other hand, must be protected from too low air humidity, as these can lead to malfunctions. At many sites, ambient values are still re-corded manually or semi-automatically. Yet fully automatic systems are no longer a luxury.
The measurement data monitoring system testo Saveris automates the entire measurement procedure. It measures and stores the temperature and humidity values according to the legal stipulations and the quality and safety standards (e.g. EN 12830, HACCP, FDA CFR 21 Part 11), summarizes them into tabular or graphic reports and alarms those responsible for quality as soon as upper or lower limit values are violated.
Typical areas of application are:
Temperature monitoring in deep-freezers and refrigerators for medicaments, vaccines, laboratory samples, blood products or tissue samples.
Temperature and humidity monitoring in waiting rooms, operating theatres, intensive care units, post-anaesthesia care units, cleanrooms etc.
Temperature monitoring in kitchens (refrigerators/deep-freezers) as well as in food transport.
Monitoring of water temperatures, e.g. in order to avoid legionella growth.
Temperature and humidity monitoring outside hospitals, e.g during the transport of foods, medicaments, blood products etc.
The Advantages of Automated Monitoring Systems
Automated temperature monitoring with an appropriate monitoring system leaves the shortcomings of manual measuring methods behind, and boosts the control of this quality-relevant data to a completely new level. That may sound like an exaggeration at first – but that’s really what it does:
Recording, documentation and evaluation of the readings is completely automated: Once set up, the system does the work for you. It does this reliably and in your selected measuring cycle.
All data is stored securely – both in the logger and also in the Cloud.
A normal PC/computer or mobile device gives you access to all measurement data any time and anywhere.
By outsourcing the task of temperature monitoring to technology, you can save both time and money. Moreover, you also get extra security – because even in cases of holidays, illness, etc., measurements are taken reliably.
In the event of limit value violations (the limit values can, of course, be individually adjusted), those in charge are immediately alerted via e-mail or SMS. This allows enough time for them to take corrective action.
In addition, the controlling authorities put more trust in customers who can demonstrate an effective HACCP self-monitoring system (and temperature monitoring with an automated monitoring system falls into this category).
USING THE SAVERIS 2 IN THE REAL WORLD
How Newcastle University protect precious research by monitoring their -80°C freezers
Testo Saveris 2 allows automated temperature measurements, storing and collating data in one central, secure place. This reduces effort of staff and eradicates the risk of data being misplaced. Reports can be set up to be sent automatically via email, SMS or App. Thanks to the wide range of probes available, with a testo Saveris 2 system you can monitor temperatures as low as -195°C, as well as the option to monitor relative humidity. Another advantage to testo Saveris 2 is that it works with WPA2 Enterprise networks, should this be a requirement.
The Institute of Cellular Medicine has many locations across the Newcastle University Medical School. They have more than 50 -80°C freezers that must be monitored to maintain precious samples. To monitor such ultra-low temperatures, Testo recommend the testo Saveris 2 T3 with an exceptionally fast temperature probe. This combination can monitor temperatures as low as -195°C. An advantage of the testo Saveris 2 T3 logger, is it has 2 channels. This means, providing the measuring points are close enough (within approximately 4 metres), Newcastle University could monitor 2 freezers with a single logger.
Stansted Laboratories is using Saveris 2 wireless temperature data loggers
Testo has supplied its latest temperature and humidity data logging system, Saveris 2, to Stansted Laboratories’ facility in Barking, East London.
Stansted Laboratories is a highly successful UKAS accredited laboratory of 20 staff analysing over 50,000 samples a year in a purpose built facility. It specialises in microbiological analysis of water and air, with its main income derived from Legionella testing of water and drinking water bacteriological analysis.
Maintaining precise temperatures within its devices – incubators, fridges, freezers and water baths – and cold room is essential to ensure accuracy and for compliance with UKAS’ stringent requirements, as is maintaining a detailed record. Stansted Laboratories had been monitoring and recording equipment temperatures manually, but as the company grew this became a time consuming, labour intensive activity.
The entire system is automated, needs no maintenance except for yearly recalibration (as standard with all test and measurement equipment), staff do not require training, and is both easily expandable and simple to install; so much so that when Stansted Laboratories recently expanded into adjacent premises, staff simply picked up the data loggers and moved them with the equipment without any need for Testo’s assistance.
Transportation of Pharmaceuticals
When transporting pharmaceuticals, clearly defined temperature and humidity limit values need to be complied with seamlessly and continuously. Breaching these limit values can result in irreversible damage to the active substances or to the composition of the pharmaceuticals. Saveris 2 can help with this too!
Incidentally: the common preconception that temperature monitoring systems are always expensive and complicated is actually just that: a preconception. As a rule, these systems can be scaled according to requirement – and can even be operated with a single data logger. Plus installation only takes a few minutes. The prices for a good handheld instrument, a data logger or a temperature monitoring system are all similar.The tried and tested testo Saveris 2, the automated temperature monitoring system from Testo, also offers you all these advantages.
Temperature Monitoring in Food Production
HACCP, G 178/2002, EN 12830, IFS, SQF, ISO 22000 – as a food producer, you are confronted with numerous regulations, norms and standards which are intended to guarantee the quality and safety of food. One of the key requirements is continuous temperature monitoring along the entire production chain, including complete documentation of the measurement data.
The testo Saveris 2 cloud-based WiFi data logger system saves you the huge amount of work associated with this: the readings are automatically collected and documented at all critical points, and you can retrieve them from anywhere. It doesn’t get any easier or more reliable!
For placement in storage areas, transport vehicles, production facilities, etc.
Measurement values are automatically transferred to the cloud, and stored there.
Data can be retrieved at any time via a web browser – also on a smartphone/tablet.
Alert (SMS/e-mail) in the event of critical values.
Monitoring Temperature in Supermarkets
You deal with fresh, easily spoilt goods every day. The quality of the products must always be immaculate, so that inferior goods are not brought into circulation. But how can you ensure that the temperature at all relevant locations always fulfils the requirements?
With the WiFi data logger system testo Saveris 2, you can now monitor temperatures in supermarkets securely, automatically and with a minimum of effort.
Positioning of the data loggers in refrigerated shelving, deep-freeze chests, storerooms etc.
Measurement values are automatically transferred to the Cloud, and stored there.
Data are accessible at any time via a web browser – also on a smartphone/tablet.
Alarm (SMS/e-mail) of critical values.
REFERENCES & LINKS
https://cuthbertsonlaird.co.uk/241-temperature-humidity
https://cuthbertsonlaird.co.uk/temperature-humidity/2119-testo-saveris-2-t3.html
testo whitepaper: Temperature Monitoring