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Which is the Best Reason for Using a Temperature Probe Instead of a Simple Laboratory Thermometer?
At Sonicu, our Support team occasionally receives calls from customers concerned that their non-Sonicu thermometer readings don’t match what the Sonicu Temperature Probe reports.
This is exactly why we recommend investing in calibrated temperature probes.
While it may be tempting and seem more cost-effective to use a simple lab thermometer, there’s a reason that monitoring systems use specific probes to track accurate readings.
According to a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), using a specially calibrated temperature probe can improve measurement accuracy by up to 0.05°C.
This level of precision is critical in many scientific applications.
Getting this wrong can cost you far more in damages than it would save you in upfront costs when using a basic temperature measurement tool.
In this article, we’ll go over topics inspired by real-life scenarios observed by the Sonicu Support team during troubleshooting calls that prove that you cannot always trust a simple lab thermometer.
Temperature Probe vs Thermometer
A temperature probe is meticulously calibrated based on industry standards.
Traditional lab thermometers, while functional, are prone to inaccuracies that can have far-reaching consequences.
Even slight deviations can compromise the integrity of your experiments and lead to misleading conclusions.
Temperature probes mitigate these issues by offering superior accuracy and reliability through a specific calibration process that most facilities don’t have access to do independently.
Sonicu has the resources necessary to ensure probes ordered through us are calibrated to meet NIST standards and compliance regulations.
When you use Sonicu sensors for environmental monitoring, you use a measuring tool that is designed to detect even the smallest differences in the environment.
While traditional laboratory thermometers have been a staple in labs for decades, they have limitations compared to modern temperature probes.
We stand behind the quality of Sonicu probes because we know the measures necessary to make them read accurately.
We simply can’t know for sure if any additional reference temperature readers you may use follow the same protocols, especially if it’s a device you’ve had on hand for years.
Sonicu is trusted by its customers to ensure accurate data readings to stay compliant with all regulatory bodies.
Built-in Thermostats on Fridges and Freezers
Some cold storage and freezers include a built-in thermometer reader around the front of the appliance. While it’s fair to assume this temperature reader would be accurate, there are a few factors you must consider.
How Old is the Appliance?
An old appliance’s built-in thermometer isn’t made to last forever. The liquid inside the thermometer will degrade with age, which compromises the accuracy of the readings.
Is the Appliance Medical-Grade?
Medical-grade appliances are designed to be a suitable environment for vaccines, medicines, and other temperature-sensitive items to extend their shelf life.
If your appliances aren’t medically graded, the quality of the unit may not meet industry standards and a temperature-sensitive probe can detect the differences in the readings.
Other Condition-Based Factors
How full or empty is this appliance?
Sometimes it’s as simple as the appliance’s airflow isn’t being used optimally. Sonicu’s customer success team recommends keeping a couple of jugs of water in an empty fridge to regulate the temperature optimally.
On the other hand, if you overstuff a fridge or freezer, this can also block the airflow and thus skew your temperature readings.
Laboratory Thermometer Accuracy
Relying on a simple lab thermometer means you have to constantly check it by hand, which takes up precious time that could be used for more pressing tasks.
Even slight deviations can compromise the integrity of your experiments and lead to misleading conclusions.
Traditional lab thermometers, while functional, are prone to inaccuracies that can have far-reaching consequences.
For example, if the temperature probe is placed in the far back of the fridge, and you place a regular thermometer at the front of the fridge, close to the door, your readings likely won’t match because of the placement of the thermometer vs the probe.
Comparing the two when they aren’t in the exact same spot won’t provide matching readings, which could unintentionally lead to missing deviating temperatures.
Probe Placement Can Make All the Difference
This is perhaps the most common issue with probes with skewed readings.
Probes offer enhanced sensitivity and faster response times, adapting quickly to changes in environmental conditions.
This is a crucial feature when you’re storing temperature-sensitive materials, but it also can be misread if it isn’t placed in an ideal area.
For example, if a temperature probe is near a source of heat, such as an air vent or the compressor of a freezer, this will skew your temperature to read higher than it actually may be.
This is how sensitive to changes in the environment temperature probes are, which is a good thing!
Sonicu recognizes this flexibility and offers a range of wireless temperature monitoring systems that adapt to various lab environments, ensuring data integrity and experimental accuracy.
How Refrigerator and Freezer Defrost Can Affect Temperature Readings
Another reason your trusty thermometer may read differently than a calibrated probe is when your fridge or freezer goes through a regular defrost cycle.
The defrost cycle is a basic built-in feature necessary to prevent cold storage from developing frost or freezing the contents inside.
However, the blast of air during the defrost cycle can alter your probe readings, which is why Sonicu recommends [placing the sensor towards the centermost part of the appliance], away from the direct flow of any sources of heat or cold air.
You can set fluctuation timers to also ensure you do not receive false alarms.
Advantages of Temperature Probes
With Sonicu's advanced systems, you can access this data remotely, enabling proactive decision-making and swift interventions when necessary.
- Higher precision and a broader range of applications
- Real-time monitoring and data logging capabilities
- Ease of calibration and maintenance compared to traditional thermometers
- Enhanced results and improved operational efficiency
Sonicu's cryogenic monitoring system exemplifies this commitment to accuracy, providing labs with the tools they need to excel in their temperature-sensitive work.
Plus, Sonicu utilizes an automated data tracking system. Using a simple thermometer and manually tracking data would make for more tedious work each day that is more susceptible to human error.
Don't just take our word for it - numerous case studies and testimonials from satisfied users highlight the transformative power of temperature probes in elevating their research and streamlining their lab operations.
Here are a couple of happy customers who also happen to work in the Lab and Research industries:
- Cryopoint experienced a boost in confidence in the performance of their ultra-low systems, knowing they’re protected with Sonicu’s Temperature Monitoring services.
- MiraVista Diagnostics finds Sonicu’s robust yet simple software easy to navigate for their Laboratory Monitoring needs.
Digital Temperature Probe Benefits
Embracing digital temperature probes in your laboratory unlocks a world of advantages.
These smart devices seamlessly integrate with software platforms, enabling effortless data logging, analysis, and reporting.
User-friendly interfaces make it easy for lab personnel to navigate and interpret temperature data, fostering a more efficient and productive work environment.
Sonicu's remote temperature monitors take things a step further by enabling automation and remote monitoring capabilities.
With the power to access temperature data from anywhere, anytime, you can optimize your lab's operations and ensure round-the-clock vigilance over critical samples and processes.
The Best Temperature Measurement Tool
When it comes to measuring temperature in the lab, there are various tools available. However, no two tools are created equal.
Laboratory temperature monitoring systems that utilize temperature probes have proven to be superior in terms of precision and versatility because they abide by the strict regulations for NIST standards.
Trusting in a properly calibrated sensor made to detect the faintest environmental changes ensures lab techs have the confidence in their data necessary to make informed decisions and pass audits.
Sonicu has ~700 customers in all 50 states, as well as in Canada and the Caribbean and serves the healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceutical, and food service industries. Customers trust Sonicu to monitor cold storage temperature, ambient room condition temperature and humidity, air pressure differential and noise.
Learn More on Sonicu Academy
Sonicu gets these questions about the accuracy of our probes all the time.
That’s why we have this handy help article available on our Sonicu Academy page that addresses this common concern with discrepancies between Sonicu probes and an alternative monitoring method.
You can review that Academy Doc here.
In addition to aiding companies with Pharmacy and Laboratory Temperature Monitoring, lab directors rely on our services to protect priceless research:
- Asset Protection: Get alerts when a freezer is malfunctioning to protect assets like medicines, vaccines, blood, research, sperm/eggs
- Compliance Automation: Creates simple reports to satisfy local/state/federal regulations
- Operational Efficiency: Spend less time capturing data manually: Both temps/conditions and reporting
Conclusion
In the pursuit of scientific excellence, the accuracy and reliability of temperature measurements cannot be understated.
By choosing a temperature probe over a simple laboratory thermometer, you're investing in the precision and efficiency that your research deserves.
At Sonicu, we're dedicated to providing cutting-edge IoT monitoring systems that empower labs to achieve their goals with confidence.
Don't settle for less when it comes to temperature monitoring.
Contact Sonicu today to learn how our innovative solutions can transform your temperature measurement processes.
American-based Customer Support: Robust & Reliable High Touch Service
Software and technology is only as good as the people who stand behind it.
At Sonicu, that means our team of American-based customer success managers who are never more than a phone call away to help field and fix any service issues.
Our probes and sensors are placed in demanding frozen environments and our software literally sends billions bits of data monthly, meaning there’s always the potential for a hiccup on either the hardware or software.
We are committed to fielding every customer service request promptly and addressing our customer’s concerns promptly and professionally.
“I like to say that every refrigerator or freezer is like a car in that they all behave a bit differently,
and then every now and then you just get a bad boy who doesn’t want to perform as we need it to,”
Martha Rardin, Director, Nutrition and Dietetics, Hendricks Regional Hospital.
“Sonicu has been a powerful tool to identify which units are behaving out of spec and get our team
to fix them before we have a serious issue.”
Tim Livesay, Director, Hancock Regional Hospital Pharmacy Director
We realized there had to be a better way and went in search of technology that could give us that level of monitoring that would keep our patients safe. Sonicu made it easy and we grew across the entire hospital.