Temperature Monitoring Can Help Confirm Your Cold Storage Appliances Remain Fit For Purpose
Researchers in Sweden recently learned how devastating a refrigeration failure can be for sensitive materials.
Just days before Christmas, liquid nitrogen outages in 16 tanks at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm lasting five days resulted in the spoilage of some 30 years’ worth of irreplaceable samples from a number of institutions, many of them from leukemia patients, at an estimated cost of 40 million euros.
The Karolinska Institutet is the revered research body that awards the Nobel Prize in medicine and physiology.
It’s not just priceless research at esteemed organizations that is under threat from temperature excursions.
In the global effort to combat infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and promote public health, vaccines play a crucial role in preventing illness and saving lives.
Ensuring the efficacy and safety of vaccines requires proper storage and temperature control throughout the supply chain.
While refrigeration is commonly used to preserve vaccine potency, the use of old or outdated (or unmonitored) refrigerators and freezers poses significant risks that can compromise vaccine integrity and effectiveness.
The same is true for research and food nearly any item threatened by a temperature excursion caused by the failure of a cold storage device.
Here, we will examine the potential dangers of storing vaccines in old refrigerators, drawing on evidence from scientific studies, expert opinions, and regulatory guidelines.
Sonicu regularly hears from distraught professionals from the medical and research industries after they suffered a catastrophic loss of critical assets, thanks in part to an entirely preventable loss if only they had invested in a temperature monitoring system.
The Importance of Proper Vaccine Storage
Before delving into the specific risks associated with old refrigerators, it is essential to understand why proper vaccine storage is so important.
Vaccines are sensitive biological products that contain live or inactivated microorganisms, antigens, or adjuvants.
Exposure to inappropriate temperatures, such as freezing or excessive heat, can harm vaccine components, reduce potency, and render vaccines ineffective. The threat is so grave that the federal government made temperature monitoring mandatory during the speedy rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.
You may recall stories about people rushing to a nearby hospital or clinic to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine when officials announced vaccines would have to be discarded if not used in hours because they had been removed from their cold storage.
Moreover, temperature fluctuations can accelerate degradation and compromise vaccine stability, posing serious public health risks.
Sonicu helps scores of county health departments responsible for the local distribution of immunizations with our simple and affordable vaccine monitoring kit that meets the standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and is verified by state health departments nationally.
The Role of Refrigerators in Vaccine Storage
Refrigeration is the primary method used to maintain the potency and stability of vaccines from the time of manufacture to administration.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most vaccines should be stored at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C (36°F and 46°F) to ensure optimal efficacy.
Refrigerators and freezers equipped with temperature monitoring devices, such as thermometers and data loggers, are essential for maintaining the cold chain and preventing temperature excursions that can compromise vaccine quality.
Sonicu even offers affordable mobile sensors that can track temperatures while vaccines and other medicines are in route from a distribution site to retail locations and then reconnect with a central hub when the trucks return to the distribution center, syncing the monitoring data to deliver a comprehensive temperature tracking system crucial to safe drug and vaccine delivery.
Risks Associated with Old Refrigerators
Old refrigerators may lack accurate temperature control mechanisms and insulation, leading to temperature fluctuations and inconsistent cooling.
Studies have shown that older refrigerators often fail to maintain stable temperatures within the recommended range, increasing the risk of vaccine spoilage.
Without reliable temperature monitoring, vaccines stored in old refrigerators are vulnerable to exposure to sub-optimal temperatures, compromising their potency and effectiveness.
Old refrigerators may suffer from poor air circulation and humidity control, creating microenvironments that are conducive to bacterial growth and moisture accumulation.
Condensation and humidity can accelerate vaccine degradation and promote microbial contamination, posing contamination risks.
Additionally, inadequate ventilation can lead to uneven cooling and temperature differentials within the refrigerator, further exacerbating the risk of temperature excursions and vaccine spoilage.
Old refrigerators may not meet current regulatory standards and guidelines for vaccine storage and cold chain management.
Regulatory agencies, such as the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO), provide detailed recommendations for vaccine storage equipment, including specifications for temperature monitoring devices, storage capacity, and maintenance procedures.
However, older refrigerators may not meet these requirements, making them unsuitable for storing vaccines safely. A remote, wireless temperature monitoring system like Sonicu is the ideal solution to help compliance professionals stay aware of their refrigerator’s status and be able to replace an aging system before its failure threatens vaccine safety.
Old refrigerators may have limited storage capacity and inadequate shelving arrangements, making it challenging to organize and access vaccines efficiently.
Inadequate space and overcrowding can impede air circulation and temperature uniformity, increasing the risk of temperature excursions and cross-contamination.
Moreover, older refrigerators may lack modern features, such as adjustable shelves and compartments, which are essential for optimizing storage conditions and accommodating different vaccine vial sizes.
Sonicu is essential to the security of vaccines
Sonicu temperature monitoring systems and other similar products play a critical role in ensuring that refrigerators are safe for storing sensitive materials such as vaccines.
Our advanced monitoring solutions offer real-time temperature monitoring, data logging, and alerting capabilities, helping to maintain the integrity and efficacy of stored vaccines. The system includes the glycol-buffered probes
Here's how Sonicu can help:
Here are some case studies that show the value of Sonicu and its products to customers seeking temperature monitoring and cold storage solutions:
SUNY Downstate: Protecting Children's Vaccines
Problem: The need for a simple, reliable, and cost-effective monitoring solution after an incident involving an open fridge door nearly costing a clinic a batch of vaccines.
Solution: Adopt a new monitoring system that is easy to install and use, ensuring the safety of vaccine supplies.
Indiana University Health: Enterprise Hospital For Temp, Humidity, Air Pressure
Problem: Challenges of using a locally based server and multiple monitoring solutions across departments.
Solution: Transitioned to a single, cloud-based solution with Sonicu to enhance monitoring capabilities across more than a dozen locations and the IU School of Medicine.
Great Lakes Bay Health Centers: Immunization Monitoring
Problem: Need for a reliable temperature monitoring solution for vaccines across multiple locations and cold storage devices.
Solution: Implemented Sonicu's automated monitoring and done-for-you calibration, which allows routine checks from mobile devices and ensures compliance with minimal staff involvement.
Invest in proper infrastructure and monitoring to safeguard precious materials
In conclusion, the use of old refrigerators for storing vaccines poses significant risks that can compromise vaccine integrity, potency, and effectiveness.
Temperature inaccuracies, inadequate air circulation, a lack of compliance with regulatory standards, and limited storage capacity are among the key challenges associated with old refrigerators.
To ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccines, healthcare providers and policymakers must prioritize the use of modern, well-maintained refrigeration equipment that meets current regulatory standards and guidelines.
By investing in proper vaccine storage infrastructure and adherence to best practices, we can safeguard the integrity of the cold chain and protect public health.
Additionally, Sonicu temperature monitoring systems and similar products offer comprehensive solutions for ensuring the safety and efficacy of refrigerators used to store sensitive materials like vaccines.
By providing the following key features:
Advanced monitoring solutions like Sonicu help healthcare providers maintain optimal temperature conditions and uphold the integrity of vaccine storage protocols.