Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Data Logger Thermometers for Vaccine Temperature Monitoring

Published

Author(s)

Michal J. Chojnacky

Abstract

Complete and accurate records of vaccine temperature history are vital to preserving drug potency and patient safety, yet many vaccine providers do not use continuous temperature monitoring systems in their vaccine refrigerators. We evaluated the performance of seven digital data logger models for candidates as refrigerated vaccine temperature monitors, based on the following criteria: out-of-box performance and compliance with manufacturer accuracy specifications over the range of 0 °C to 10 °C; measurement stability over 6 to 18 months of continuous use; proper use in a vaccine storage refrigerator so that measurements reflect liquid vaccine temperatures; and practical methods for end-user validation and establishing metrological traceability. Data loggers were tested using ice melting point checks and by comparison to calibrated thermocouples to characterize performance over 0 °C to 10 °C. We also monitored logger performance in a study designed to replicate the range of vaccine storage and environmental conditions encountered at provider offices. For effective temperature monitoring, data logger setup must mimic the conditions and physical properties of stored vaccines. A data logger with an external probe kept in glycol-filled bottle effectively accomplishes this with minimal effort or expense. All loggers tested using this setup consistently performed within manufacturer accuracy specifications at both the ice point and in refrigerator trials. End-users may successfully validate performance of these logger types in the field using a simple ice point check. By contrast, loggers featuring sensors designed to record air temperature proved unacceptable for use as vaccine temperature monitors.
Citation
NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 7899
Report Number
7899

Keywords

Cold Chain, Vaccine Temperature Monitoring, Digital Data Logger, Continuous Temperature Monitoring, Vaccine Storage and Handling, Vaccines for Children, Centers for Disease Control, Air Temperature, Glycol Temperature

Citation

Chojnacky, M. (2012), Data Logger Thermometers for Vaccine Temperature Monitoring, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7899 (Accessed March 29, 2024)
Created November 23, 2012, Updated November 10, 2018