Monitoring and tracking are integral to process compliance and product safety in pharmaceutical industry. They provide an effective way of making pharmaceutical products safe, ensuring the highest Degree of quality, and fulfilling regulatory regulations. One of many ways to monitor and track pharmaceutical processes is with Data Loggers.
In this article, we will discuss how to select data loggers for your pharma applications, but first, let’s define data loggers.
What are Data Loggers?
Data loggers are electronic devices that monitor process variables and take records over time. They use different input mediums for measurement, such as sensors or probes, and can process variety of variables. The data logger can display in many forms, such as graphics, tabular form or analogue style. It can also act as a standalone indicator.
The readings in the data logger indicate a time-stamped view of the variable being recorded. The entire record can be tracked back to a different time value for viewing and analyzing.
A single data logger can measure multiple variables, such as temperature, voltage, and current. It also has multiple probes, called channels, that allow it to take multiple measurements in a given time.
The data logger can also interface with the computer through software to view, visualize, and analyze the data. For this purpose, a communication cable and device software on the computer are required.
Input types
A data logger can take different input types. Some models allow only one kind of input, while others support multiple input types.
Some input types that can be used with the data logger include, but are not limited to, the following.
Temperature
Temperature is the most common type of input used that log the value of temperature against time with a fixed time interval. For measuring temperature, specific temperature sensors, such as thermocouples or RTDs, are connected to the logger. The sensors then measure the temperature sensed by the logger.
Temperature recording is commonly used in environmental monitoring, sterilization processes, and laboratories.
Humidity
These data loggers monitor humidity, and work in conjunction with temperature values.
Pressure
A pressure data logger logs the value of pressure against time. It can log differential, atmospheric, and absolute pressure through suitable pressure sensor.
Functions type
Data loggers are also classified according to function, which can include,
Standalone - they can work & operate independently of a computing or mobile device. They can record, display, and output data on the device.
USB—These data loggers record values, but they require a USB connection to transmit the data for viewing and analyzing.
Bluetooth Data Logger - These data loggers use Bluetooth to transmit the data for viewing & analyzing.
Cloud-Connected Data Logger—These data loggers transmit data to a cloud server. They must be connected to the Internet and any cloud service. This type allows real-time data availability using a web browser or mobile device.
What can go wrong if appropriate data loggers are not selected?
Let’s discuss some consequences of not appropriately selecting data loggers.
Inaccurate readings
The core function of a data logger is to measure relevant readings and log them in an appropriate format for record purposes. While sensors, internal circuitry, and signal conditioning errors affect the readings, a wrongly selected data logger can also cause the reading error.
Inappropriately selected data loggers will fail to detect and measure the correct value. This could also cause the data logger to log values outside of the acceptable limit, even if the readings lie within the acceptable threshold.
Erratic records & documentation
The data logger provides records of logged values, which become part of the pharma process documentation, such as a Batch record. These records offer time stamped values of the variables during the entire process.
An inappropriately selected data logger will fail to provid...
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