Related Information

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Articles & White Papers

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• Thermocouples vs. Thermistors

Customer Solutions

• Pharmaceutical warehouse mapping
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• Veriteq data loggers help relocate U.S. Biotech Company

Pharmaplan is a leading provider of pharmaceutical consulting services, including temperature validation. Recently, Stephanie Cowan of Pharmaplan told us how much setup time and preparation the Veriteq system saved them on a recent warehouse temperature study - 80% - compared to their traditional thermocouple-based system.

Many of the Veriteq advantages arise from the fact that Veriteq data loggers do not rely on thermocouples.

The Challenge

Validating temperature distribution in a large pharmaceutical warehouse poses several challenges when using thermocouples:

• Disruptive
  Warehouses are active places, with forklifts and constant motion - its not hard to imagine the disruption caused by stringing thermocouple wiring throughout.
  
• Limited Radius
  With a multi-channel thermocouple system, all wires have to go back to a central unit, meaning that the radius of reachable points is limited by the length of thermocouple wires. For a 350,000 square foot warehouse the choice comes down to moving the central unit multiple times (setting up, calibrating, and taking measurements each time) or purchasing more central units, which is expensive. In either case, the stringing of thermocouple wires is labor intensive.
• Pre- and Post-cal
  Thermocouple systems must be calibrated prior to and after every use--a requirement that becomes even more critical when using long cable lengths. This is a time-consuming process that can be quite frustrating, especially when the post-cal results are far out-of-spec (not uncommon with thermocouples).
• Expensive Wiring
  For a large warehouse, long thermocouple probes are costly and difficult to handle, especially since each probe has to be in one continuous length. The Veriteq system can save thousands of dollars on probe costs for a typical warehouse validation.

The Veriteq Solution

Veriteq data loggers don't rely on thermocouples, but use high-stability thermistors that are not only more accurate, without the wiring errors of thermocouples.

• Unparalleled Accuracy
  In addition, the increased accuracy of thermistors eliminates costly pre- and post-cal steps, saving you time and reducing downtime. Veriteq's data loggers also come with a 10-year internal battery that allows each logger to operate independently of an external power source.

• Humidity Capable
  Another plus is the ability to record relative humidity. Although not required for all customers, Cowan says the Veriteq data loggers' ability to collect both temperature and humidity readings provides a more complete picture of the warehouse environment.

• No Downtime
  For Pharmaplan, these advantages translate into time-savings and a competitive edge. The company was able to qualify the 350,000 square foot warehouse in a single operation using multiple Veriteq data loggers placed evenly throughout the warehouse - all while normal warehouse activities continued uninterrupted.

  The ability to perform temperature testing without interrupting operations has allowed Pharmaplan to enhance their other validation services as well. For instance, the company provides testing of all sorts of temperature-controlled facilities, including full production areas in active operation. "We can do the testing without causing the customer any downtime", says Cowan. "Using the Veriteq loggers instead of thermocouple wires has been a tremendous help."

  When asked about the alternative thermocouple-based system, Cowan replied, "Its hard to even compare these two systems because we are talking about one tool that is right for the job, and one that is not. At this point I won't use anything other than Veriteq."

Easy to Display & Report

Although Veriteq loggers are completely self-contained and operate independently of each other, the data from each logger can be displayed on a PC or printed in a report , as in most multi-channel systems.