Maintaining the right temperature is crucial for any biological pharmaceutical facility. Temperature becomes even more important when it comes to a biopharma storage facility. The whole process, however, doesn’t have to be too difficult or technical. Here are a few tips on creating a correct and effective temperature map of your pharmaceutical storage facility.
1. Find the Best Data Logger to Effectively and Accurately Monitor Your Facility
For a proper data logger, you’re looking for one that has:-
A large storage capacity- this will determine the number of sample points a device can take before its memory is full. If the memory is full, you’ll have to delete the entries to free up space for more sample points which could be taxing if you have little storage capacity because you’ll have to do it over and over.
Temperature range- Depending on the storage conditions you require for your biological pharmaceutical facility, the temperature ranges for the operations of conditions will vary. Just remember to find a logger that captures temperature above and below the expected operating temperature range
Physical size- choose a logger that fits into the storage units space
Data collection software- chose a logger that can collect and manipulate the various data types used for your storage facility.
2. Spacing of the Sensor Grid
You have to arrange your sensor grid to capture all three dimensions of your facility for accurate temperature results.
3. Find all the Critical Mapping Points
It’s hard to maintain a constant temperature in large and open spaces. It is therefore important to get the temperature readings of all places that may be problematic for pharmaceutical samples. These places may include
- Exits to areas without temperature control.
- Areas close to ceilings or external walls, where temperatures may fluctuate.
- Places with bad air circulation
- Heated air rises
Doing so will enable you to take the necessary steps to get the temperature back to optimum ranges when they spike or dip.
4. Determine the Frequency of Sampling
You need to keep track of any changes in temperature or humidity over a stipulated period, especially for biological pharmaceutical storage facilities. Make sure you do so frequently enough to get conclusive results but not so frequent that the analysis process becomes cumbersome. You could try sampling every fifteen minutes for a week or so; this is okay for starters.
5. Note Down the Location of Your Sensors
It is important to keep track of your sensors to read and recharge your units easier. It will also help you identify inaccurate reading from faulty sensors if readings from different loggers don’t correspond. To properly document your sensors, you could:-
- Name each logger or use a serial number
- Use a sticker on each sensor
- Draw a map with the location of each sensor
6. Record the Data and Upload It
When the sampling is complete. Obtain all the data from each sensor, having labeled down and noted the location of each sensor. Depending on the mapping software you opt for, upload the data from the logger into the computer for analysis. Matlab is a great software with incredible capability, but MS excel will always give you the correct kinetic mean temperature.
7. Document the Results and Repeat the Process Again
Temperature mapping is a continual activity that only stops only when the biological pharmaceutical facility closes down. Document your finding for future reference or further analysis, and also for proof of hospitable conditions for pharmaceutical samples.
Temperature mapping is vital for any biological pharmaceutical facility worth its name. If you practice these steps, then you’re bound to come up with accurate temperature results to ensure the safety of samples and other biological pharmaceutical materials.
With the U.S. responsible for about 45% of the world’s pharmaceutical market in the world, properly mapping temperature in your facility is a critical undertaking.
