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The term “parametric release” is commonly used when referring to sterility assurance; however, it is often misinterpreted. Let’s take a look at what parametric release is and how data loggers play an integral part in product validation.
Continue reading Understanding Parametric Release
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What are TCS foods?
One of many abbreviations used in the food processing industry, TCS stands for time/temperature control for safety. In short, this refers to foods that require a specific time and temperature controls to remain safe. Understanding what TCS foods are and how to prevent them from becoming dangerous is key to keeping consumers safe.
Which foods are TCS?
Certain foods are more susceptible to bacterial growth based on their organic makeup. The levels of acidity and moisture as well as the overall composition of a food can determine if it creates an environment that promotes pathogen growth. Some of the most common TCS foods are:
These foods (along with others) can spoil very quickly in uncontrolled environments. Think about the difference between storing a steak in a 40° F refrigerator versus in a hot car in the middle of July—which one would you want to eat?
What makes these potentially dangerous?
The danger of TCS foods is introduced when the food passes through what is known as the temperature danger zone. This temperature range is from 40° F to 140° F and is considered the ideal environment for bacterial growth in TCS foods. To put it into perspective, a single bacteria can double every 20 minutes if a food is kept in the danger zone.
To learn more about specific ways food can become unsafe if left at the wrong temperature, click here.
How can these foods be kept safe?
Knowing that bacteria grows the fastest in the danger zone, you can see how vital it is that food be kept out of the danger zone—or, if it must pass through the danger zone, that it do so quickly.
A vital part of keeping TCS foods safe is ensuring that your refrigerator or refrigerators are maintaining the proper temperature, so that cold and cooling foods are kept out of the danger zone as much as possible.
The most precise and efficient way to monitor the temperature of your refrigerators is a data logger, such as the MadgeTech RFTCTEMP2000A. This compact device fits conveniently inside a refrigerator and delivers superior accuracy in measuring temperatures. In addition to monitoring ambient temperature, the RFTCTemp2000A also accepts an external thermocouple that can be used with a thermal buffer to more accurately mimic the temperatures your foods are experiencing. Even better, you can set up desired temperature ranges for the logger, and it will e-mail or text you if the temperature leaves the set range. This way, you can monitor your refrigerators without constantly having to open them to check a thermometer.
For more information on how MadgeTech temperature data loggers could help you keep your TCS foods at safe temperatures, please reach out to the MadgeTech sales team.
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We all know that food can spoil if it’s held at the wrong temperature, making it unsafe for us to eat. But did you know that medications can be negatively affected by temperature as well? However, unlike food (which can spoil faster if held at room temperature), medications need to be kept at a moderate temperature at all times, and that’s important for pharmacies to understand so they can keep their medications safe.
Specifically, the ideal for many medications is between 68° and 77° Fahrenheit, although certain medications require refrigeration. Allowing medication to become either too hot or too cold can lead to degradation and loss of potency over time, and can even cause the medication to have different effects from what’s intended.
This is important for consumers to understand so that they don’t store medications in hot cars or cold garages. But it’s even more important for pharmacies to understand; a pharmacy may have a large inventory of medications in stock, and the last thing a pharmacist wants is to either sell customers damaged medications or be forced to throw away their inventory.
So how can a pharmacy ensure their medications are kept at a temperature that is neither too high nor too low?
First, keep the pharmacy temperature-controlled and well-ventilated as much as possible. Some pharmacies find it useful to keep a backup generator on hand in case the power goes out and air conditioning or heating stops working. Backup generators are especially important for medications that need to be refrigerated.
Second, monitor the space closely, using more than just your own best judgment; medication is too important to just give it your best guess. Invest in a temperature data logger, such as the MadgeTech RFRHTEMP2000A, which constantly monitors both the temperature and humidity of the space it’s in and will wirelessly send alerts via e-mail or text when the conditions of a room stray out of a certain range. Because this data logger is fully customizable, you can set this range yourself to perfectly match the range of temperatures you’ve determined to be best for your pharmacy. Then you can rest easy knowing that no matter where you are, you’ll receive an alert if temperatures in your pharmacy have gotten too high or too low.
For more information on how MadgeTech temperature data loggers could help you keep your pharmacy temperature controlled, please reach out to the MadgeTech sales team.
