Where cooler heads prevail :: Unanswered Technical Questions From Interphex Week

It was an interesting, diverse and exciting trip to New York City this week. I'd like to thank all of you who took the time to stop by the booth at Interphex and chat about the blog and discuss what you've been working on, issues you're dealing with, or packaging conundrums you're trying to resolve.

One of the more interesting technical questions I was asked came from a bio-tech researcher from Cambridge, MA. Although I could not answer his question directly, I assured him I would post it to the blog and with over 1,700 visits here a month, hopefully he can check back and see if anyone has any information they would be willing to share and post.

Question: What, if any, are the effects of gamma radiation sterilization on temperature data logger performance? How does this affect the componentry, memory chip, battery, etc.?

Apparently, his company packages their temperature sensitive product (complete with data logger) into distribution packaging and zaps it afterward. Currently, they use a TempTale 4 Dual Sensor with a flexible external thermocouple, and place the logger outside the box in a lead pig before sterilization. I'm sure any information you can share would be appreciated.

A second question was asked by a fellow member the . He broadcast it to the members of the cold-chain discussion group and I thought I'd post it here as well to see if any of you can provide him with the information he is requesting.

Question: "I am currently working on a new project where we are looking at standard 5 and 10 Liter bags that will be filled with various Biological and culture media products. We will be transporting these between sites, potentially at -70C. Trying to get a benchmark on what everyone is doing. Specifically, the type of secondary packaging, totes, cages etc., quantities currently shipping, and experiences, if any, with bag materials at these low temperatures".

* * *

Next week I'm off to Bethesda to moderate at the inaugural PDA Cold-Chain Management Conference. There should be plenty of information to share when I return...

Posted to:

Main Page

Technical Discussions

Comments

Post a comment

Re: Unanswered Technical Questions From Interphex Week

by Provo on Mon 27 Mar 2006 09:23 AM CST | Profile | Permanent Link

Re: Low-Temp bag / tote / cage materials.

I'm working on just such a project. The difficulties so far have been:

- what kinds of activities will accurately simulate the unique system the bags encounter

and,

- what kinds of materials can stand up to edge and corner drops and/or vibration at -70°
to -80°C with 5 to 10 lbs of product.

Between various "durability" tests, there have been integrity issues with all components. Experimentation is in progress.

Re: Re: Unanswered Technical Questions From Interphex Week

by Ignacio on Thu 20 Dec 2007 04:22 PM CST | Permanent Link

I have experience in this matter,the critical point are the bags tubing and conectors you need inmobilize then with some kind of molded material. ice dry never in contact with the bag and I recomended use not more 5 L bags presentation with 2.5 L of product.

Post comment:

	Receive comment notifications for this article
Subject:
Comment:

Comment verification:

Please enter the text you see inside the graphic to post your comment:

You are not currently logged in. If you would like your user information to be displayed with your comment, please enter your login information below.