Monitoring temperatures across the cold chain

Published: 2-Sep-2010
Manufacturing Logistics

24/7 checks possible with Comark RF500 system

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), is spearheading a drive for continuous temperature monitoring across the pharmaceutical ‘cold chain’.

Correct storage and transportation temperatures are fundamental to maintaining the quality of medicines. Even so, during 2005/6 (the latest figures available), MHRA inspectors found that nearly 33% of all major deficiencies concerned failures with the control and monitoring of temperatures, and 17% related directly to medicines.

According to UK supplier of automated temperature monitoring equipment, Comark, resistance to temperature monitoring by some sectors of the industry comes from the perceived inflexibility of traditional hard-wired systems. There are also concerns about the reliability of newer wireless developments. However, the Hitchin, Hertfordshire-based firm says new mesh networking and bi-directional technology is providing a strong argument for taking another look at the latest generation of wireless systems.

Comark’s RF500, for example, provides automatic 24/7 monitoring of critical temperature points within a process or across an entire site. A central Gateway unit collects the data for analysis and gives alarm notification by email, voice or SMS if temperature and/or RH levels move outside preset limits. The RF500 maintains a complete history of temperature and/or humidity levels.

A UK Healthcare Trust is using RF500 systems to provide 24/7 monitoring of 180 critical locations, including blood fridges in pathology labs and blood banks across four hospital sites. Previous methods involved a network of chart recorders, data loggers and manual checks.

Comark has also broadened the applications of the RF500 to cover goods in transit. A transmitter placed in a vehicle will continuously monitor temperature and automatically transmit the data to the Gateway unit as soon as the transmitter returns within range.

A wholesaler with multiple UK locations and a fleet of delivery vehicles engaged in distributing pharmaceuticals and medicines to a network of high street pharmacies has ordered a system.

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