Which sensor is used in cold storage to monitor temperature?

Thermocouple technology is the most common type of sensor used to monitor temperature in the refrigerators and freezers of labs around the world. That’s good to know…but what does thermocouple really mean? Why is this the best choice for cold storage monitoring? And where can simple, durable lab sensors be found? This quick guide can help LabOps teams make the best decision for their needs. 

What sensors are used for temperature measurement in LabOps?

There are four basic types of sensors used for temperature measurement in LabOps: thermometers, chart recorders, data loggers, and IoT sensors. This list represents the evolution from manual processes of the past to the most cutting-edge technology on the market today. 

• Thermometers: Everyone is familiar with thermometers. Lab thermometers work no differently than the ones people use to see if they have a fever. A thermometer displays the temperature of cold storage right now—but a person has to be there to read and record the data. If a thermometer is in a freezer and no one is there to read it, does the temperature measurement really matter?
• Chart recorders: A chart recorder passes a pen over a sheet of paper to track changes in temperature over time. This is a step up from the thermometer, because the data is recorded without human involvement. However, this sensor type is still limited by space and time. Unless someone is in the lab to pay attention to the chart being recorded, this sensor is simply documenting the rise in temperature without helping actually save the samples in question from getting too hot. 
• Data loggers: Data loggers connect the work of thermometers and chart recorders to the 21st century. Through these systems, cold storage temperature data can be stored on a local hard drive or USB drive, even without an internet connection. This allows data to be preserved for months or even years, without the risk for human error. Thermocouple sensors are a common attachment to these systems, which is one of the reasons those sensors are so common. 
• IoT sensors: IoT sensors enable cold storage monitoring data to be accessed and transmitted in the cloud. This means a lab manager who is out for the evening could receive an alert if a refrigerator or freezer has failed. Innovations like this transform temperature data from a passive piece of information into something teams can take action on when it’s critically needed.

Labs today are migrating to IoT sensors because they make cold storage data available in real-time from all connected devices. Such technologies allow labs to deliver on the full promise of cold storage temperature monitoring. Now, monitoring can help teams save their samples, not just identify at what time in the past something went wrong to spoil them. 

How temperature is monitored in cold storage: examples of different lab sensor types

All the sensors described above can be used to monitor temperature in cold storage. Here are three hypothetical examples of how different cold storage monitoring systems can support lab teams, or cause challenges. 

Example 1: Thermometer-based refrigeration monitoring system

A medical laboratory in a rural hospital stores a wide variety of tissue and blood samples for analysis. However, since there isn’t a high patient volume at any given time, there hasn’t been much investment in the cold storage monitoring technologies for the lab. Staff are still recording temperature readings from thermometers in a log book each morning and evening. That is, until growing labor shortages require fewer staff members to do more on each shift. Temperatures are not being monitored as regularly as they should, leading to complications and liabilities in the year-end audit. 

Example 2: Data logger freezer temperature monitoring system

A research laboratory stores tissue samples in a deep freeze to keep them preserved and accessible for current and future study. The lab uses a data logger to keep an accurate automatic record of these freezer temps, since it’s presumed the data won’t change much day-to-day. One weekend, a summer storm hits the city, causing power outages and rendering many roads impassable due to flooding and debris. Team leadership is hopeful that on-site backup generators will keep all the freezers running at the appropriate temperature, but they can’t confirm this because they can’t get to campus. They have asked the responders on-site to go check, but this request is low on the priority list. Since the lab’s stakeholders can’t prove the severity of the need, they can’t get the request escalated. Ultimately, the data logger reveals exactly when several of the freezers became too warm, and for how long, but aren’t able to help staff save the samples in real-time as they weren’t able to see the data remotely.  

Example 3: Cloud-based temperature monitoring system for lab cold storage

A laboratory network has received a shipment of valuable reagents or samples and distributed the vials to each location. The regional quality control director is responsible for making sure this sensitive material is given in a certain time frame while also ensuring they are preserved at the highest quality and efficacy. Luckily, the network of labs has installed a cloud-based temperature monitoring system that delivers insights about each refrigerator to an app in real-time. 

This lets the QC director confirm each batch of reagents is stored at the appropriate temperature, as well as how often the refrigerators are opened. One afternoon, they get a notice that one clinic’s refrigerator door has been left ajar for six minutes. They are able to follow up with the on-site leadership and prevent the reagents from being wasted.

Take 60 seconds to upgrade your cold storage monitoring system with Element T 

Laboratories and other facilities put off upgrading their cold storage monitoring system for many reasons. The old system might work well enough for now, and staff might be comfortable with the tools and processes to make them work—even when those approaches are less efficient than necessary. When leaders know an upgrade is needed, the looming necessity of upgrading the equipment and training on a new system might cause additional hesitation. 

The solution to all these challenges is the Element T system from Elemental Machines. Our LabOps intelligence platform uses a combination of sensors and software to transform lab data into actionable information. For example, imagine you run a laboratory that has 100 freezers. With data from the Element T at your fingertips, you could easily analyze which freezers have been opened consistently throughout the past year and which are not being used. Using this information, you can make informed business decisions that lead to greater efficiencies. 

Speaking of efficiency, the Element T thermocouple is a mere .5m (or 500 microns) thin so it can fit through door seals with no need to bore a separate hole into the unit. This makes installation easy, within 60 seconds, and ensures a tight seal so your units do not have to work overtime to compensate. Not to mention that the Element T connects seamlessly with our dashboard, as well as other systems such as ELN, BMS, LIMS, and more. With that data flowing in, the team can access a single source of truth for temperature monitoring, calibration and maintenance predictions, usage data, and more. 

Take two minutes to watch this introductory video that demonstrates the capabilities of Element T, as well as how easy it is to install. Then, request a demo to talk about your facility’s specific needs and how we can help.