Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Joyce Whitehead — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 14:41:26 GMT

We have max/min thermometers in the drug room, just updated to electonic data loggers. We are lucky that our drug room stays fairly cool as it has no windows and is totally internal, so haven’t had the temperature going that high. We have been careful to get the equine Vets to take drugs out if cars though in the hot spell as they were certainly over 30 degrees at times.

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 14:13:10 GMT

Nothing to do with fridges really but what have folk done with drugs that normally don't require refrigeration but probably should be stored below 25C, in this hot spell? I assume not everyone has AC and chances when the temperature was 30C + outside it was over 25 indoors and you did't put them all in the fridge before it cooled down, so have you chucked them out? My last VMD visit suggested that I should measure room temperature and if it exceeds 25 C then that is exactly what I should do!

I suspect stating that products should be stored below 25 C is a bit of a number plucked from the air like 28 days but I imagine several days >30 would not improve them.

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Tim Gooders — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 00:01:58 GMT

I recommend using a data logger to periodically record temperature in all practice fridges. Henry Schein supply the Tempod product under code VWVET05.
This small unit is multi use and uses a USB connection to allow download of data.
The unit displays the current temperature on an LCD display, meaning it can be checked without disturbance or through a glass door.
The recording interval can be adjusted from every 10 seconds to every 2 hours, therefore record for up to six and half years.
Final feature is it has a max and min alarm settings.

I would not risk wasting valuable or crucial product. I also endorse the use of best practice and know that in previous companies we have monitored the storage temperatures of warehouses, storerooms and even sample cupboards to ensure our Pharma products get to practice in perfect condition.

(Heads up I work for Henry Schein)

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Laurence Webb — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 23:28:39 GMT

Our insurance policy covers fridge failure as long as the fridge is <10 years old. Above that we need annual engineer examinations to ensure cover, which would probably cost more than the fridge itself.

Of course, if someone turns the fridge off by accident that can be an expensive venture. It happened last year to us during summer, so the fridge contents got up to 24C and had to all be thrown away. Extensive investigation showed that the idiot who turned in off was me so I didn't even have the enjoyment of haranguing someone for their incompetence.

Our current system is a medical fridge which records max/min (with alarm if above required temperature), a data logger in the main fridge and in the pharmacy plus a monitor that checks the temperature in the pharmacy that has two wireless probes that sit in the fridge and the wall mounted vaccine chiller. If the temperature exceeds the appropriate level it given an audible alarm, which has been useful in the recent hot weather. The wireless monitor came off Amazon and cost about £17.00

Should there be a power cut OOH then our fire alarm monitoring service will call so that there is a fair chance that fridge outage from that could be acted upon

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 10:19:59 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]We have never had a fridge fail (domestic or pharmacy)[/quote]

You've been lucky.

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Bob Russell — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 09:51:06 GMT

The vast majority of fridges are replaced because they get manky, seals fail, bits of plastic break and owners go for a new shiny one for the kitchen. They rarely get thrown out because they fail.

A specialist fridge even with a 5 year warranty does not necessarily come with insurance that covers the contents in case of failure so a new unit may not be much safer than a checked out recycled one.

We have never had a fridge fail (domestic or pharmacy) therefore you have to weigh up the risks and benefits of any option.

The most common cause for failure is (I suspect) someone coming along and switching off the wrong plug. At least a pharmacy fridge will have an audible alarm! Not too much help overnight or at a weekend but nothing is fool proof.

We use Data loggers and the temperatures are amazingly stable (LEC pharmacy fridges). Occasional spikes when the reading coincides with an open door.

They get the beer ice cold really fast as well!!

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 15:12:38 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Many are routinely replaced after a set number of years, presumably insurance related.[/quote]

But they can fail without warning. Wouldn't really matter for a domestic fridge, but if you've a fridge full of drugs that have been between 10 and 14 °C over the weekend you have something of a dilemma.....

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Bob Russell — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 14:59:50 GMT

Pharmacy fridges often come up on Ebay at silly prices. Many are routinely replaced after a set number of years, presumably insurance related.

There are a number of recycling companies that sell them with at least a dead on arrival warrenty. We bought some about 5 years ago. They are extremely reliable so you are likely to be OK. Ours were ex-BUPA and from someone in Cornwall.

We have one for vaccines, one for milk and rotas and I have one at home that keeps beers at a wonderfully stable 3.5 degrees. Magic at the moment. They were under £100 each plus delivery.

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Rob Loxley — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 13:44:27 GMT

We have these https://www.jakmarketing.co.uk/minmax-digital-thermometer which seem to work well. Stick on the door or side of the fridge and can be read without opening the door (and warming it up). Also has a room temperature reading, useful if you have meds in the same room. We have the probe in the back of the fridge, but agree with coupling it to something with more 'thermal mass' (e.g. small vial of water which might therefore approximate the temperatures that your vaccine vials actually reach, rather than just air temperature), and yes interpreting with a pinch of salt the air temperature in the fridge after restocking it with the door open...
The probe on a cable fits in the MSD vaccine chiller and the door seems to close fine round the cable and chiller gets down to temperature. Beware these Peltier coolers have fans which are great at sucking in dust, reducing cooling efficiency...

Essentially you need to make sure that the temperature gets down to but not below 2-8C once the door has closed, and this happens sufficiently well that things don't have time to warm up significantly, to keep PSS/VMD happy.

A data logger is another option which gives you a nice graphical readout on the computer to keep to happy that target temperature is reached and maintained, but you need some more immediate indication (alarm/visual thermometer eg. https://www.jakmarketing.co.uk/fridgefreezer-thermometer-alarm which are again cheap and simple - comes preset for 2-8C) of under/over temperature.

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Andrew Mellor — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 13:41:22 GMT

we use usb data loggers , they then monitor your temps as often as you set it to and you can see exactly how cold/ warm things get in the middle of the night / first thing in a morning before fridge is first opened. this can be stored as an electronic record or nice graphs printed off if you prefer.

we use the labfacility EL-USB-1

they are about as thick as your thumb and sit in the top of one of the vaccine racks in our vaccine fridges , or clip on/ stand on pharmacy shelves etc

does everyone record temps wherever you store repeat prescription meds when they are bagged up and waiting for collection?

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 13:36:03 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

[quote user="scarlet"]Great idea!!! Been panicking over rcvs inspection as this is my first as CD and I need it to be right![/quote]

Don't panic, all they do is offer help and suggestions if something isn't right. They are there to help you. There will always be something they find.

[/quote]Agreed, we have three normal fridges, one for the vaccines and other temperature sensitive items the others for rotas for the lab machines etc. We check the temperature a couple of times a day and record them on a chart from a basic fridge thermometer and measure maximum and minimum periodically with a max/min thermometer. The inspector isn't rapturous with this but I haven't been shot or told to throw out the vaccines if its been over ideal temperature on occasion. I don't think a small practice can be expected to pay £100's on specialist fridges with external displays and alarms.

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 13:03:53 GMT

[quote user="scarlet"]Great idea!!! Been panicking over rcvs inspection as this is my first as CD and I need it to be right![/quote]

Don't panic, all they do is offer help and suggestions if something isn't right. They are there to help you. There will always be something they find.

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

scarlet — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 12:38:15 GMT

Great idea!!! Been panicking over rcvs inspection as this is my first as CD and I need it to be right!

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

scarlet — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 12:37:04 GMT

Unfortunately the temperature isn't displayed hence need for thermometer in vaccs fridge. But excellent idea 're liquid!!!!

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 12:31:54 GMT

Exactly. Every time you open the door all the cold air falls out. I can believe the air temperature varies wildly and in this weather I can easily believe 14 degrees whilst someone hunts for the little used bottle of something.

We used to have ours in a pot of water to represent average temperature of the liquids. If its a vaccine fridge can't you just log from the number on the door?

RE: Thermometers accuracy fridge temperatures

Rob Davis — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 12:16:33 GMT

The air temperature in fridges varies enormously every time the door is opened. Sometimes it can help to place the thermometer probe in a bottle stuffed with cotton wool so keeping it out of the air flow and most of the temperature fluctuation.