{"id":13445,"date":"2021-01-15T19:48:04","date_gmt":"2021-01-15T14:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stechguide.com\/?p=13445"},"modified":"2021-01-15T19:48:04","modified_gmt":"2021-01-15T14:18:04","slug":"how-dry-ice-data-loggers-ensure-covid-19-vaccine-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stechguide.com\/how-dry-ice-data-loggers-ensure-covid-19-vaccine-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"How Dry Ice Data Loggers Ensure COVID-19 Vaccine Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"
COVID-19 vaccines have begun to be administered by governments around the world, and delivery efforts to end one of the most unprecedented pandemics in history have begun. Soon enough, the world may be able to emerge from <\/span>the challenges of lockdown<\/span><\/a> and start to figure out what the post-coronavrus era has to offer us.<\/span><\/p>\n There are many versions of the vaccine, but all of the ones approved for rollout so far have one thing in common: they need to be stored at extremely low temperatures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Specifically, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines need to be stored at -94F and -4F respectively to be effective. These frigid conditions are beyond the capabilities of traditional cold chain condition monitoring systems and need special solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n Dry ice combined with traditional cold chain storage is the transportation solution that most logistics companies have developed, prompting the logistics industry to start using dry ice data loggers to monitor shipment temperatures, providing pivotal quality assurance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here’s how <\/span>ice loggers<\/span><\/a> will ensure the vaccine is safely transported and stored.<\/span><\/p>\n The extreme cold places a lot of stress on condition monitoring sensors. These sensors can be present either inside the vaccine’s dry ice packaging or outside it and need to be certified for cold chain usage. The US government\u2019s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers a clear framework that all sensors must follow.<\/span><\/p>\n The body outlines calibration requirements <\/span>to ensure errors are minimized<\/span><\/a>. Sensors suitable for dry ice shipments usually operate a coin cell lithium battery that can be replaced easily. Crucially, these sensors often support pre-start logging. This means they start tracking data even if they aren’t switched on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The UK has standards termed EN12830 that are quite similar to the NIST framework. All devices involved in cold chain monitoring are subjected to a battery of tests including error measurement, shock resistance, vulnerability to mechanical vibrations, and influence of ambient temperature.<\/span><\/p>\n It’s safe to say that any sensor that passes both these sets of standards is well equipped to deal with the harsh storage environments that the COVID-19 vaccines demand.<\/span><\/p>\n While temperature is the primary condition that needs monitoring when the vaccines are transported, other conditions are important as well. Shock, humidity, and light are equally important to <\/span>determine the status of a shipment<\/span><\/a>. For example, excessive light within the storage unit indicates packages might have been prematurely opened.<\/span><\/p>\n Excessive shock can destabilize the way storage boxes are placed within a larger unit and might result in damage to them. Excessive humidity indicates a leak within the cold chain system. Corroborating this with temperature data usually reveals flaws in the storage solution.<\/span><\/p>\nCertified Sensors<\/span><\/h2>\n
Condition Monitoring<\/span><\/h2>\n