If you store vaccines in Australia, the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines – Strive for 5 are the key reference for maintaining the vaccine cold chain.
The current third edition specifically recognises automated temperature-monitoring systems – including remote and wireless systems that continuously send temperature data to a web server and can alert users through a mobile app.
That description is very close to how Clever Logger works.
But there is an important point to understand:
Clever Logger automates continuous monitoring, recording, alerts and reporting. It does not remove the manual checks that are still required under Strive for 5.
That is a change from earlier versions of this article, so let’s look at exactly what is required.
For routine vaccine storage in a purpose-built vaccine refrigerator, the current guidelines require several layers of temperature monitoring.
| Requirement | How Clever Logger fits |
|---|---|
|
Continuous temperature monitoring at minimum five-minute intervals |
Clever Logger can record temperature at five-minute intervals |
|
Automated alerts |
Clever Logger can notify nominated users when temperatures move outside configured limits |
|
Temperature history |
Clever Logger automatically stores historical temperature data |
|
Weekly review of temperature information |
Clever Logger can automatically generate and email scheduled weekly reports |
|
Twice-daily current, minimum and maximum temperature recording |
This is still a manual requirement |
|
Visual temperature check before retrieving vaccines |
This is still required |
|
Backup minimum/maximum thermometer |
This remains a separate requirement |
So Clever Logger takes care of much of the continuous monitoring workload, but it works alongside your vaccine fridge procedures rather than replacing them.
Strive for 5 requires vaccine refrigerators to have a data logger or automated temperature-monitoring system capable of continuously measuring temperature at minimum five-minute intervals.
Clever Logger is designed for exactly this type of monitoring.
Instead of relying on someone to remember to connect a logger to a computer, temperature readings are automatically sent through the Clever Logger gateway and stored in your account.
This gives you a continuous temperature history that can be viewed whenever you need it.
More importantly, you don’t have to wait until someone checks the fridge to discover that something has gone wrong.
Continuous monitoring becomes much more useful when someone is actually told about a problem.
Clever Logger can send notifications when a fridge moves outside its configured temperature limits. Notifications can be sent to nominated users so that the appropriate people can investigate.
This is particularly valuable outside normal business hours.
A twice-daily check might tell you that something went wrong several hours ago. An automated monitoring system gives you the opportunity to find out while the problem is happening.
That doesn’t replace the required manual checks, but it provides an additional layer of protection between them.
Yes.
This is probably the most important change from the advice that appeared in the original version of this article.
The current Strive for 5 guidelines are very clear that automated monitoring does not remove the requirement to record the current, minimum and maximum temperatures twice daily.
The reason given is simple: automated equipment can fail.
The twice-daily recording provides an independent check and helps staff become familiar with the normal operation of the vaccine refrigerator.
The guidelines also require the current temperature to be checked visually before opening the refrigerator and retrieving vaccines.
So even with Clever Logger continuously watching the fridge in the background, your normal twice-daily temperature recording procedure needs to continue.
This is one area where an automated system can make life considerably easier.
Traditional data loggers usually need to be physically connected to a computer so their data can be downloaded.
Clever Logger sends its data automatically.
The current Strive for 5 guidelines recognise this distinction. For automated temperature-monitoring systems, the readings don’t need to be manually downloaded to a computer.
However, a temperature report must still be reviewed at least weekly.
Clever Logger can automatically generate a weekly report and send it to nominated users. That removes the need to remember to download the data, but someone should still actually review the report.
That weekly review is an important part of your vaccine storage procedure.
Clever Logger gives you a detailed temperature history showing what happened before, during and after an event.
That information can be extremely useful when investigating a suspected cold chain breach.
However, Clever Logger doesn’t determine whether affected vaccines are safe to use.
If vaccines have been exposed to temperatures outside the recommended range, follow your cold chain breach procedure and seek advice from the relevant state or territory health department.
Your Clever Logger temperature history can then provide the detailed information needed to help assess what occurred.
Yes.
Under the current guidelines, an automated monitoring system or data logger is used in addition to the required minimum/maximum thermometer.
A portable minimum/maximum thermometer is also required for situations such as vaccine transportation or a refrigerator failure.
Clever Logger should therefore be considered part of your overall vaccine temperature-monitoring system rather than a replacement for every other monitoring device.
Clever Logger isn’t intended to replace good vaccine management procedures.
What it can replace is much of the tedious work traditionally associated with data logging.
There is no need to regularly connect the Clever Logger to a computer to retrieve its data. You don’t need someone to discover an alarm by noticing a flashing light on a logger. You don’t need to wonder what happened to the fridge overnight.
Clever Logger continuously monitors the temperature, stores the data and can alert your nominated users when something needs attention.
Your staff still perform the checks required by Strive for 5, while Clever Logger watches the fridge between those checks.
The best way to think about Clever Logger isn’t:
“This means we don’t need to check the fridge anymore.”
It is:
“This means the fridge is being monitored even when nobody is checking it.”
Your twice-daily checks provide one layer of protection.
Your purpose-built vaccine refrigerator provides another.
Clever Logger adds continuous monitoring, automatic record keeping and remote alerts around the clock.
Together, those layers give you a much clearer picture of what is happening to your vaccines – particularly when nobody is standing in front of the fridge.
It is more accurate to say that Clever Logger provides the automated temperature-monitoring functionality described in Strive for 5.
Compliance with the complete guidelines depends on more than the choice of logger. It also involves your vaccine refrigerator, minimum/maximum thermometer, staff procedures, twice-daily records, weekly reviews, backup arrangements and cold chain breach procedures.
Clever Logger helps make the continuous monitoring part considerably easier.
And if something does go wrong, you have the temperature history you need to understand what happened.
The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) is the recognised national accreditation authority for analytical laboratories and testing service providers in Australia. It is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that provides independent assurance of technical competence.
NATA accredits organisations to perform testing and inspection activities for their products and services. This gives consumers the assurance they need to make safe, healthy and reliable choices .
| QUICK SPECS | |
|---|---|
| Model | CLD-01 |
| Type | Temperature only with Dual Sensors |
| Temperature Range | Internal sensor: -23°C to +60°C External sensor: -40°C to +80°C |
| Humidity Range | N/A |
| Battery Type | CR2450 |
| Battery Life | Replace every 12 months |
| Accuracy |
Internal Sensor: ±0.3℃ (0℃ to +60℃) ±0.3℃ to ±0.7℃ (other temperatures) External Probe: ±0.5℃ (-20℃ to +40℃) ±1℃ (other temperatures) |
| Offline Memory | approx 24 days logging at 5 minute intervals |
| QUICK SPECS | |
|---|---|
| Model | CLX-01 |
| Type | Temperature only with Probe |
| Temperature Range | -40°C to 60°C Can operate up to 80°C for short periods |
| Humidity Range | N/A |
| Battery Type | CR2450 |
| Battery Life | Replace every 12 months |
| Accuracy | ±0.5℃ (-20℃ to +40℃) ±1℃ (other temperatures) |
| Offline Memory | approx 24 days logging at 5 minute intervals |
To prove it, we’ll send you a Starter Kit to try out for a whole month.
Set it up, have a play, explore the features – obligation free.
If you love it, just let us know.
If not, just send it back.