Pharma Temperature Monitoring Devices

What Are The Different Pharma Temperature Monitoring Devices?

Maintaining and sustaining a temperature-controlled supply chain is no easy task. An effective cold chain logistics strategy helps expand boost sales. However, it is prone to risks due to the sensitivity of the transported products. With the development of an approved COVID-19 vaccine. Cold chains around the world need to be fortified. Now more than ever, due to the wide-scale operation of its global distribution, cold chain logistics is in demand. To ensure the proper delivery of time and temperature-sensitive products such as pharmaceuticals, it is important to have pharma temperature monitoring devices installed throughout every step of the cold chain.

Pharma Temperature Monitoring Systems

The technology ensures the integrity of the product is maintained through the use of temperature sensors. A temperature monitoring system enables the control and regulation of a product’s environment. These systems are important to ensure the efficient operation of hospitals and clinics. Food businesses and other industries that feature temperature-sensitive items can also use temperature sensors. A standard temperature monitoring system should include the following:

• Automatic alerts and notifications of sudden high and low temperature changes
• Generated reports for trend analysis
• Automated temperature tracking for temperature fluctuations
• Indicators for minimum and maximum thresholds

Temperature monitoring devices should be part of a greater system. Pharma-Mon by AKCP provides such an end-to-end system for the complete cold chain. Cold chain monitoring devices are grouped based on their purpose.

International Vaccine Shipments

20-Day Electronic Shipping Indicators

International vaccine shipments must be maintained between 2˚C to 8˚C. Irreversible 20-day electronic pharma temperature monitoring devices known as shipping indicators are recommended by World Health Organization. They monitor temperature during vaccine shipment. Should the product experience temperature excursions, an alarm will notify staff. This device is usually for single use only, once the alarm has been set off, it cannot be used again.

Throughout The Supply Chain

Vaccine Vial Monitors (VVM)

Vaccine Vial Monitors (VVM) are best used throughout the supply chain. There are four types of VVM: VVM2, VVM7, VVM14, and VVM4. They are distinguished by WHO based on the heat stability of a vaccine. VVM’s determine the heat exposure of individual vials and other main containers of the vaccine.

Vaccine Vial Monitors (VVM) are best used throughout the supply chain. There are four types of VVM: VVM2, VVM7, VVM14, and VVM4. They are distinguished by WHO based on the heat stability of a vaccine. VVM’s determine the heat exposure of individual vials and other main containers of the vaccine.

Cold Rooms And Freezer Rooms

Central Temperature Monitoring Device

These are primarily used for monitoring storage conditions in walk-in cold rooms and walk-in freezer rooms WIC and WIF. They have event logging with configurable temperature thresholds. Usually alarms and auto-dialer functions. Their programmable functionality allows specific applications. They are scalable, allowing for future installation of additional sensors. A wireless centralized system like this is provided by AKCP.
A typical system is composed of:

• Temperature Sensor: determines temperature at a specific location. They may be individually connected or collectively connect to a logger unit.
• Door Open Sensor: transmits signals when a door is opened
• Logger Unit: records individual sensor data, this data is then transferred to a base station or a personal computer
• Base Station: this is where data from individual logger units or sensors are transferred. It acts as a recipient and it may have its own power supply and on-board memory. It can also act as a gateway sending the data to. a cloud storage service.
• Alarm: sends sound or light alerts whenever a temperature excursion is experienced
• Auto-Dialer: automatically dials a prefixed telephone number and sends a voice or SMS message when an alarm is triggered by a temperature excursion
• Application Software: designed to run and integrate the system elements. it can be PC based or cloud based.

Integrated Digital Temperature Monitors

Integrated Digital Pharma Temperature Monitoring Devices are included in all cold rooms that are Performance, Quality Safety (PQS) qualified. This device monitors the freezer room temperature and shows on an external display the real-time temperature.

Dial Thermometer

This device monitors the present temperature. It is integrated into all cold or freezer rooms. It can be used as a backup external display in case of a power interruption.

Multilog with 8, 12, 16, and 24 Sensors

To consistently monitor the Cold/Freezer Room temperature, a multi-log is used. The multi-log is able to monitor temperature through a computer. It also has the ability to monitor the temperature in up to 16 different locations at the same time. Often, it is equipped with an audio alarm and an optional automatic dial-out facility.

The parameters can be adjusted depending on the needed specification. Logging interval, measurement unit, site location, auto-download, and files locations can be configured based on user preference and need. This device is often used in cold and freezer rooms that are used as storage for bulk vaccines.

Refrigerated Vehicles And Cold Boxes

Dashboard-Mounted Continuous Temperature Monitors

This device monitors the internal temperature of a refrigerated vehicle. It is installed in a refrigerated vehicle and features a visual dashboard mount.

Freeze Indicators

This device intercepts freeze incidents. One freeze indicator should be situated near the most freeze-sensitive vaccine in the shipment when the vaccine is packed. It can only be used once.

Cold Chain Monitor

This is a paper-based device that uses time-temperature sensitive indicators which irreversibly change color at a constant rate. They are mainly used to oversee the international shipment of freeze-dried vaccine consignments where dry ice is present. It may also be used for shipments that will take several days before reaching the destination.

Vaccine Vial Monitors (VVM)

These devices are best used throughout the supply chain but are often used in cold boxes and vehicles. The inner square of the VVM is composed of heat-sensitive material that has a light color. It becomes darker due to heat exposure. By looking at the color of the square and comparing it to the reference ring health workers can gauge the extent of the vaccine heat exposure. As long as the color of the inner square is lighter than the reference ring, it can be used.

Electronic Shipping Indicator

This device shows when a product has been exposed to temperatures that exceed the predetermined alarm settings. They are composed of an electronic temperature measuring circuit and an associated LCD display. The word “OK” is displayed on the device as long as the temperature is within the allowable range. However, if the indicator is exposed to temperatures outside the allowable range, the word “alarm” will be displayed.

Refrigerators and Freezers

User Programmable Temperature Data Logger

This device is powered by a battery and is able to store data for a significant time period. In order to extract the data from this device, it needs to be downloaded through a USB cable to a computer. It functions as a “reusable Cold Chain temperature monitor” and it is often used in Cold Chain studies, freezers, and refrigerators.

30 Day Electronic Temperature Logger

This device measures the temperature inside the refrigerator during a 30-day period. The maximum and minimum logged temperatures are readable by the user. It sends alarms whenever there is a temperature excursion. At the end of the 30-day period, the device will continue logging temperature by incrementally overwriting data older than 30 days.

The temperature display unit is attached outside of the cabinet and the sensor lead passes through the door seal. The sensor head is connected inside the refrigerator or a freezer in a location that accurately measures the temperature of the load.

Pharma-Mon provides wireless versions of this that do not require the wire to pass through the door seal.

A 30-day electronic temperature recorder is a great alternative to a central monitoring system in case it is too costly. It may be used as an external temperature display backup or internal recording method in case of a power failure. From the date of activation, it has a minimum operating life of years.

Dial Thermometer

It is a mechanical device wherein a metal pointer is used on a circular scale to determine temperature measurements. This device is composed of two primary parts, a temperature sensor, and the mental pointer or needle.
The sensor can be liquid, gas-filled, or vapor-tension-based. It operates based on the principle of contraction and expansion. Depending on the temperature changes, the liquid expands or contracts as a reaction which causes the pressure to move the needle on the scale.