Welcome To Our Latest Edition of "Temperature Matters"

First and foremost, a huge thank you to our incredible sponsors who make this inaugural edition possible and free for all our readers. Your commitment to our community is deeply appreciated. We're excited to have you with us as we explore crucial insights and advancements in temperature mapping studies.

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Mastering Sensor Placement: A Guide to Accurate Temperature Mapping

By Nathan Roman

We're focusing on "Optimizing Sensor Placement for Temperature Mapping Studies." Understanding the importance of accurate temperature readings and the role of sensor placement can make a significant difference in research outcomes. We'll be sharing insights, best practices, and the latest advancements in this field.

1. What's a Big Problem?

Inaccurate Temperature Readings in Critical Studies: In fields like pharmaceuticals, food storage, and climate research, even a minor deviation in temperature can lead to significant errors. Ensuring accurate temperature readings is paramount, and the placement of sensors plays a crucial role in this.

2. How Do Most People Solve It?

Default to Manufacturer's Guidelines: Many professionals rely solely on the manufacturer's guidelines for sensor placement. While these guidelines provide a good starting point, they might not account for other chamber characteristics, specific environmental variables or unique study requirements.

3. Why Doesn't It Work for Them?

One Size Doesn't Fit All: Every environment has its unique characteristics. Different manufacturers, like Stirling, PHCbi, Haier, Thermo, Norlake, Subzero, and others, have distinct designs and layouts for their refrigeration coils, leading to varied warm and cold spots within the chamber.

My friend Jason Cook says, "I like to compare these units to snowflakes - from a distance, they might appear identical, but a closer look reveals a diversity in structure and characteristics, though their performance is similar."

A storage facility might have areas where cold air accumulates, or a laboratory might have equipment emitting heat. Solely following generic guidelines can lead to blind spots, resulting in inaccurate data collection.

Real-world Scenario: A pharmaceutical company in the northeast stored vaccines in a large cold storage. Following generic guidelines, they placed sensors at standard points. However, they overlooked a corner where cold air was getting trapped, leading to vaccines being stored at a slightly lower temperature than required, compromising their efficacy.

4. How Might I Solve It Differently?

Customized Sensor Mapping: Consider the specific characteristics of the environment. Conduct a preliminary study to identify potential hot or cold spots. Use data loggers to monitor these areas over a period to understand temperature fluctuations better.

Engage Experts: Consider consulting with experts who specialize in temperature mapping studies. Their experience can provide insights that generic guidelines might miss.

Industry Guidance on Sensor Placement: In addition to the customized approach and expert consultation, it’s essential to consider what the industry guidance suggests. According to the ISPE Good Practice Guide on temperature mapping of storage areas, sensors should be placed in each of the eight corners of the space, with one in the geometric center. If applicable, an extra sensor should be adjacent to the display, control, and/or monitoring probe(s), making for a minimum of at least 10 sensors.

The sensors should be placed in a uniform pattern in all three dimensions of your space: top to bottom, left to right, and front to back. This configuration is suitable for most refrigerators, freezers, and incubators, with adjustments made depending on the size of the unit being mapped.

For larger spaces, a scientific rationale for sensor placement needs to be developed, considering the size of the chamber and potential storage locations. Industry guidance emphasizes the importance of evaluating the size of the space, identifying the airflow, and determining the usage of the space. Utilizing a location checklist, like the one shown below, can aid in this process, ensuring a comprehensive and rational approach to selecting mapping locations.

Temperature Mapping & Qualification Sensor Location Checklist

5. Recommended Action Step(s):

Take Action for Precision: Now that you've gained insights into optimizing sensor placement, it's time to put this knowledge into practice. Here's your actionable step:

Conduct a Sensor Placement Assessment: Choose one critical area in your temperature-controlled environment and conduct a preliminary assessment using portable data loggers. Monitor temperature variations for at least a week to identify potential hot or cold spots.

Once you've completed the assessment, you have several options:

🟢 Schedule a Consultation: Feel free to click here to book a time to review your assessment findings. I'm here to provide expert guidance and answer any questions you may have.

🟢 Seek Expert Advice: Alternatively, you can provide the assessment to a trusted validation consultant who specializes in temperature mapping. Their expertise can help provide valuable insights into your current sensor placement and temperature uniformity.

Remember, precision in sensor placement can significantly impact the quality of your temperature mapping studies. By taking this step and seeking expert input if needed, you'll be on your way to more accurate data collection and compliance.

Ready to Elevate Your Temperature Mapping Expertise?

Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways we can assist you in mastering temperature mapping studies:

🔔 Explore Expert Insights: Subscribe and discover actionable tips, industry trends, and expert knowledge to enhance your skills.

📊 Join the Pharma Temp Mapping LinkedIn Group: Gain access to in-depth content, practical workshops, and a community of fellow temperature mapping enthusiasts. Join here

📞 Book a Call with Me: Schedule a personalized 30-minute call designed to help you take the next step in your temperature mapping journey. Receive tailored advice and insights to overcome specific challenges and enhance your expertise. Book a call

Choose your path to temperature mapping excellence, and let's embark on this journey together. We're committed to your success in temperature mapping and look forward to journeying together.

I hope you're able to find value in this article. If you did, please subscribe to this newsletter and follow me on LinkedIn.

Warm regards,

Nathan Roman 📈

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