Technical

Choosing a vaccine thermometer

Temperature monitoring is critical in the storage and handling of VFC vaccines.  Choosing the correct vaccine thermometer to monitor your vaccine supply is equally important.  The CDC lists their vaccine monitoring requirements and recommendations in the CDC Storage and Handling Toolkit CDC Storage and Handling Toolkit

Below is a list of the CDC requirements and recommendations for a vaccine monitoring thermometer as well as the product specification that fulfills both.

CDC Requirements:

*Calibration Report Included
*Annual Recalibration by ILAC/MRA accredited laboratory available
*Traceable® Certificate supplied

•  Fulfilled by Traceable® Certificate: Multi-point calibration on an individually-numbered Traceable® Certificate which assures accuracy from an ISO/ IEC 17025:2005 (1750.01) calibration laboratory accredited by A2LA. It indicates traceability of measurements to the SI units through NIST or other recognized national measurement institutes (NMI) that are signatories to the CIPM Mutual Recognition Agreement.

CDC Recommendations:

Glycol encased probe 

• Sealed bottle sensor is insulated from rapid temperature changes when refrigerator door is opened (Patented)

Certificate of Calibration includes methods and procedure documentation  

• Fulfilled by provided Traceable® Certificate

Certificate of Calibration includes stated uncertainties

• Fulfilled by provided Traceable® Certificate

Certificate of Calibration includes measurement results

• Fulfilled by provided Traceable® Certificate

Data Logger with Continuous Monitoring and Active Display

• Datalogging capabilities hard-wired into unit

Data Logger with user programmable logging intervals

• User-defined datalogging interval of one observation/minute to one observation/24 hours

Data Logger capable of storing 4,000 readings that will not overwrite when full

• Maintains most recent 525,600 temperature observations (Excursion-Trac™)

Minimum/Maximum Memory

• Unit has Minimum/Maximum Memory

Capable of displaying current temperature and minimum/maximum memories

• Unit displays simultaneously, current temperature and Minimum/Maximum readings

Minimum/Maximum Memory reset

• Memory may be cleared (data may be downloaded to a USB drive) (Excursion-Trac™)

±0.5°C (±1°F) Accuracy

•  ±0.25°C (–50 to 70°C)

Detachable probe

• Yes

High/Low Alarm

• Yes 

Read storage unit temperatures without opening the door

• 10 foot micro-thin cable is easy for refrigerator door to close and seal

 The below chart will help you determine the best vaccine thermometer for your needs.

***Important notice***

As of January 1, 2017, the following recommendation will be a requirement for all VFC providers.

All VFC providers must have certified calibrated digital data loggers for continuous temperature monitoring for each VFC storage unit and back-up thermometer.

Volumetric glassware is designed to measure a predefined volume of liquid or to measure the volume of a delivered liquid. Volumetric glassware includes, volumetric flasks, volumetric pipettes, burettes, serological pipettes, mohr pipettes, graduated cylinders and graduated mixing cylinders.  Since many labs are regulated by different agencies, it is important to understand the different types of calibration, classification and certifications in order to choose the correct piece of glassware for your laboratory.

Burettes and pipettes are calibrated TD "To Deliver" which means the delivered quantity of liquid corresponds to the capacity listed on the glassware.  Volumetric flasks and graduated cylinders are calibrated TC  "To Contain" which means the contained quantity of liquid corresponds to the capacity listed on the glassware.  

Our Class A volumetric glassware is available with a Batch Certificate or an Individual Certificate. Batch Certificates list the mean value contained, standard deviation and batch number of the glassware.  Individually Certified glassware have an individual serial #, mean value, standard deviation, measured uncertainty, as well as the batch number listed on the certificate. All Class A glassware is manufactured to ASTM  standards using state-of-the-art manufacturing and calibration equipment. The calibration laboratory is NABL accredited in accordance with ISO 17025:2005 standards.  Results of calibration are guaranteed for precision as per DIN, ISO, USP and ASTM Standards.

Our Class B volumetric glassware feature tolerances that are about twice that of comparable glass A glassware. Class B glassware is used in labs for basic measurements of liquids.

When you are trying to decide the level of calibration needed in your lab keep in mind that our Class A Individually Certified volumetric glassware is accepted in calibration laboratories worldwide. Compare our prices to other leading glassware manufacturers and the choice will be clear.

Individual Certificate

 Batch Certificate

At Southern Labware we are always on the lookout for new products that can improve the process and efficiency of procedures in the lab.  Over the years there have not been many improvements in the membrane filtration technique.  A vacuum pump, filter holder and filtering flask is the typical set up.  The WaterVac 100 is a brand new product from the worldwide leader in vacuum filtration apparatuses, Rocker Scientific.

The WaterVac 100 can be used for the membrane filter technique for analyzing aqueous-based fluids for microbial contamination.  Simply add a 47mm filter holder and you have a vacuum filtration system that takes up 70% less space on the lab bench.  

The WaterVac 100 is a unique vacuum filtration system which can generate sufficient vacuum for filtration through built-in air/water pump and drain the waste liquid directly. Compared with traditional filtration equipment, WaterVac 100 does not need additional suction flasks or bottles to collect the waste liquid.   This space saving feature makes it ideal for working in tight spaces like a laminar flow cabinet.

The following specifications of the WaterVac 100 make it versatile enough for many general filtration applications as well as meeting the Membrane Filter (MF) Technique filtration parameters described in U.S. EPA, ISO and ASTM standards .

Specification

• Max. vacuum : 540 mmHg
• Max. flowrate (air) : 2.2 LPM
• Max. flowrate (clean water) : 0.5 LPM
• Weight : 1.16 Kg
• Power : DC 12 V, 1.5A,
• Transformer : 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz
• Max. ambient temperature : 5 - 40 °C
• Dimension : 170 x 120 x 96 mm (LxWxH)

Materials :

• Housing material - stainless steel with powder painting
• Valve plate - EPDM(Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
• Diaphragm - EPDM(Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
• Fluid Path inlet / outlet port - Stainless steel # 316
• O-ring - FKM
• Fluid path hose - silicone tube
• Draining hose - silicone , Ø4 / Ø8mm,  2 meter.

The WaterVac 100 is a versatile product that will save you space, time and money.  If you have any application questions please contact us at 844-522-9273 or see the product online at WaterVac 100 vacuum filteration system

pH – MORE THAN AT A GLANCE

pH is a measure of the alkalinity or acidity of a nutrient solution. A neutral solution is numerically equal pH 7; as the solution gets more acidic, the numbers decrease and increase as it becomes more alkaline or basic. Pure water is neither alkaline nor acidic, rather it is neutral.

This sounds quite simple until we begin to evaluate which meter we should use because this evaluation requires close scrutiny not only of the product we choose, but also we must make our selection of the meter select based on:

ACCURACY – typically from pH +/-0.1 to pH+/-0.01

ATC – AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION – When there is an increase or decrease in the temperature of a solution, the pH of the solution can change. With ATC, the meter signals the sensor and corrects the pH reading for changes in the electrodes sensitivity at that temperature. (Oakton pH meters – www.southernlabware.com)

CALIBRATION – Your pH meter is calibrated using buffers of a known pH by immersing the electrode and adjusting the meter accordingly. The electrode should always be rinsed with distilled water after each calibration point is established. For example, in some cases a 5-point calibration may be recommended. (pH Buffers –

ELECTRODE – A solution is like a battery and can generate an amount of voltage depending on the concentration of Hydrogen (H+) ion present. pH electrodes measure the voltage or potential difference of the solution in which it is dipped. Glass electrodes are the most popular and successful electrochemical sensors. It consists of a glass bulb membrane, hence its name, and a tubular body which separates an internal solution and a silver/silver chloride electrode from the tested solution. This is hooked up to a pH meter which is in reality a voltmeter which measures the potential difference and its changes across the glass membrane. There are single junction and double junction electrodes as well as stainless steel, single junction and double junction electrodes that may be replaceable or non-replaceable. (Electrodes available at Buy Electrodes from ph meters and testers ).   

RESOLUTION – This term should not be confused with ACCURACY. The resolution is the smallest value that is shown on the instruments display. Thus an instrument that has a 0.01 pH means that it will read to the nearest 0.01 pH; for example 8.06 pH. The better the resolution, the better is the measurement display capability of the meter. This may not mean that this is a more accurate pH meter, however it does usually indicate a superior instrument. (Waterproof, double-junction pH Testr 30 by Oakton at (Buy Electrodes and Waterproof, double-junction pH Testr 30 by oakton at ph meters and testers).

When choosing which pH meter is best for your application, price may be a factor and a meter that costs twice what another one costs does not always mean it will deliver results that are twice as good. Always compare specifications to get the best value and, important too, compare the replacement costs of the electrodes or other probes for your meter. Remember, first determine your application needs, then compare these factors: ACCURACY, ATC, CALIBRATION, ELECTRODES, RESOLUTION.