What are accurate USB temperature sensors for vaccine storage monitoring?

Vaccines are stored between 2 °C and 8 °C in refrigerators and between -50 °C and -15 °C in freezers, according to the CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit. The CDC asks for a temperature monitoring device with a current calibration certificate showing an uncertainty of ±0.5 °C or better.

Our TMP300 covers this need with a single instrument:

  • A range of -50 °C to 150 °C, with a 2.5 cm (1 in) stainless steel probe on a 2 m silicone cable
  • A typical accuracy of ±0.101 °C from 0 °C to 30 °C, which covers refrigerators
  • A typical accuracy of ±0.166 °C from -20 °C to 0 °C and ±0.370 °C from -50 °C to -20 °C, which covers freezers
  • A traceable calibration certificate, issued by an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory at the temperatures you use, ordered with the instrument (see the steps)

Only the probe goes inside the refrigerator or freezer, and its 2 m cable passes easily through the door seal. The USB housing stays outside: its operating range is -20 °C to 70 °C, and the accuracy figures in the datasheet are given with the housing at 25 °C. Note that the TMP300 is not designed for ultra-cold freezers (-90 °C to -60 °C).

Be aware, however, that Dracal sensors are not standalone data loggers: they have no screen, no battery and no built-in alarm, three features the CDC lists for the loggers used in clinics. They are an excellent fit for laboratories, biobanks and pharmacies that log through a SensGate and route alerts through their own system (for example with our MQTT Publisher), or as a reference instrument to verify existing loggers.

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