TEMPERATURE MONITORING
Customisable sample rates For further flexibility, look for a device with customisable sample rates. Different governing bodies recommend different frequency of temperature checks. Data loggers allow the user to configure a custom sample rate to enable them to ensure adherence to industry regulations, and to make their dataset as comprehensive as they wish. A sample rate of approximately 10 minutes is usually considered sufficiently frequent for a comprehensive set of data, although some devices will allow you to log readings as often as every 10 seconds. Throughout the cold chain, it is important to use a device with a display, so that you can always complete visual checks, rather than being completely reliant on the device’s reporting. As well as the ability to see the live temperature, a really useful function can be a minimum/ maximum display screen, which will indicate the minimum and maximum temperatures that the device has recorded since it was last reset. The device can be reset at the start of transit, so that when vaccines arrive at their destination, the recipient can instantly see the minimum and maximum temperatures that the vaccines have reached. This facility might also be useful in storage applications – allowing you to check these values and reset them at the same time every day so that you can see the minimum and maximum temperature for the previous 24 hours. In fact, some local guidelines state that this is best practise for monitoring vaccines.3
A high-accuracy probe
Another useful function throughout the vaccine cold chain is a high-accuracy probe. Accurate temperature readings are vital in ensuring that vaccines really have maintained potency. Some data loggers now come with specialist probes designed to replicate vaccine temperature, rather than monitor the external air temperature of the vaccine container. These can give you a more accurate reflection of actual vaccine temperature. Also, look at product datasheets. The technical accuracy of the probe and/or device should also be considered; a product with a typical accuracy of ±0.5˚C is potentially accurate enough, but a lot of products can provide you with even higher accuracy, which will increase the reliability of your monitoring.
Seek a calibration certificate Wherever possible you should seek to obtain a calibration certificate for your device. This provides you with tangible evidence that the data from your device is accurate to the degree stated on the product datasheet. Seek to renew this calibration certificate every 12 months to demonstrate your continuing efforts to
38 Health Estate Journal August 2020
An example of user interfaces for a cloud-based data storage and device management.
ensure that you are accurately monitoring vaccine temperature. This is an important consideration when choosing a supplier for your data logger; a supplier that is happy to provide you with ongoing support will have processes in place to make recalibration as seamless as possible. Faster lead times, calibration in batches, and discounted pricing, are just a few ways in which a supplier might be able to support your organisation and minimise disruption to your vaccine monitoring throughout the recalibration process.
Vaccine storage
Depending on the storage facility, your organisation may need specific functionality. However, there are a few product characteristics which are generally useful in most vaccine storage
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The ideal solution is often a rechargeable device that normally remains plugged into mains power, but will continue to operate using the rechargeable battery in the event of a power failure
applications. Firstly, it is advisable to look for a data logger that will operate independent of mains power. This ensures that monitoring will continue in the event of a power failure. Having said that, it can then become a laborious task to constantly change or recharge batteries; the ideal solution is thus often a rechargeable device that normally remains plugged into mains power, but will continue to operate using the rechargeable battery in the event of a power failure. Some devices, in fact, have the ability to notify the user when they are connected to mains power and when the connection is lost. If you power the data logger from the same outlet as your vaccine fridge, it can potentially notify you when power to the fridge is cut (provided that power to your Wi-Fi router has not also been lost), giving you a great chance of fixing the issue before the potency of the vaccines is compromised. Another data logging characteristic to consider is the connectivity/data download method, i.e. the means by which you can transfer the data readings from the data logger to a useable platform – such as a laptop, PC, or mobile device. Common options include Wi-Fi, USB, and cellular networks.
Wi-Fi connectivity
Wi-Fi connectivity is a popular choice for storage facilities – the reason being often zero infrastructure costs – most buildings now have excellent Wi-Fi coverage, so additional hardware for non-standard wireless protocols is not needed. Wi-Fi
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