By investing in a relatively inexpensive data logger, you can potentially save thousands of pounds worth of vaccines from being discarded. 

 


 

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Which temperature range should you be monitoring? 

The answer is of course load temperature - the reason being that liquid items such as vaccines hold their temperature for a longer period of time than air does.

So leaving the fridge door open for a few minutes will likely cause a dramatic rise in air temperature however, the rise in load temperature is not likely to be as alarming.


 

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We'd like to emphasise the importance of historical data, when investing in a relatively inexpensive data logger, you can potentially save thousands of pounds worth of vaccines from being discarded.

A data logger works by reading the load temperature at regular intervals. This data becomes extremely valuable should you discover the fridge door has been left open for an extended period of time or whenever there's been a power outage.

By downloading the data recorded on this device, you can make calculated judgements on whether the vaccines in your fridge are okay to keep or if they have lost their 'immunogenicity' and require discarding.



Example Data Logger Reports






Many clinicians record the data every day of the controller; however, it doesn't tell you what happened last night or last weekend. 

Whilst it's good practice to review the controllers' recorded max and min temperatures, it doesn't provide the whole story over a period of time as a data logger does.


Recommendations when using a data logger for temperature monitoring of vaccines:

• Set to read measurements every 15 or 30 minutes
• Set alarm parameters, high 8°C and low 2°C
• Place the data logger in the middle of your fridge
• Download and review the data weekly 

Click to View Data Loggers


Further Reading:
How To Operate A Temperature Data Logger
Tips To Optimise Your Vaccine Refrigeration