Changing seasons, global warming, customs delays â these can all make food supply chain management more of a challenge than ever. Many foodstuffs suffer spoilage if exposed to too high a temperature, while others are sensitive to cold and need a freeze alert, but simple tools are available to monitor ambient conditions and provide alerts if breaches to expected conditions are detected.
New regulations make it mandatory to implement formal procedures for food handling. For example, the US FDA will introduce a new food traceability rule in November 2022.
Timestrip food indicators can:
- Reduce product spoilage and wastage
- Help suppliers to comply with local and national regulations
- Demonstrate a commitment to responsible quality assurance systems and good manufacturing practices
Timestrip liquid-based temperature indicators
Timestrip produces a wide range of indicators based on reliable chemical processes, from the Timestrip PLUS 170 that produces an alert at -20ÂșC, to the Timestrip PLUS 171 that reacts at 38ÂșC, there are stock products available to suit every need. For food monitoring, a popular choice is the Timestrip PLUS 065 with an alert set at 8ÂșC ascending and an indication of how long the set temperature has been breached â up to 8 hours.
The single use indicators are easily activated and read with little or no training required. Some are designed with FDA compliance in mind.
For picking and packing of fresh fruit and vegetables, indicator labels can be attached to punnets for example. Dairy products such as ice cream may use a Timestrip PLUS 058 -14ÂșC label ascending, and for frozen shipments of any kind, a Timestrip PLUS 077 0ÂșC ascending indicator is ideal. While foods sensitive to freezing can benefit from a freeze alert indicator such as the Timestrip neo Freeze Alarm.
Timestrip liquid-based time indicators
For high value goods, a Timestrip Time 24 month time indicator can provide stock rotation / shelf life monitoring for up to 24 months.
A unique serial number on each indicator make these products completely traceable as part of a quality management system.
Food temperature data recording
For applications where a record of temperature data is required, the Timestrip Micro Data Logger TL520 is a compact and economical âmicro data loggerâ that provides alerts when temperatures breach set limits, and allows the logged data to be downloaded to an app for investigation and analysis. Simpler and easier to use than conventional data loggers, the TL520 requires minimal training in use, and can be used at any point in the cold chain.
The 2-8ÂșC default settings make the TL520 ideal for monitoring cold chain (refrigerated) temperatures in the storage and transport of foods.
Package level electronic monitoring
Timestrip neo indicators are specially designed electronic devices that are cost effective, accurate and reliable, and so support the actions required to manage the food hygiene and safety procedures in food businesses, and ensure that end customers enjoy the highest quality product.
Timestrip neo indicators:
- Give accurate and reliable visual alerts to breaches in temperature level and duration
- Are small and robust enough to travel with the product throughout the supply chain
- Are suitable for field or factory use - simple to use and read
- Are much cheaper than conventional data loggers
- Include a unique serial number printed on each indicator for traceability
The Timestrip neo Fridge TT525-AB stock product indicates at -0.5C, 2C and 8C, with time monitoring for the 8ÂșC level. It can therefore be ideal for monitoring all types of frozen and chilled foods, fresh fish and other seafood, meat, salads, vegetables etc.
Have questions about monitoring food with Timestrip? Contact us today.
TimestripÂź has added to its recently announced neo platform with two new stocked products.
The Freeze Alarm is designed for products that are sensitive to freezing, and provides a visible freeze alert if the ambient temperature drops below 0ÂșC for 30 minutes; it shows a further alert at 60 minutes.
The Room Temp indicator monitors the range 15 to 25ÂșC, and alerts at one hour.
The two new indicators complement the first Timestrip neo product, the Fridge Alarm, which reacts at three temperatures and five time intervals.
All the products check temperatures around twice a minute, and are expected to be popular in healthcare applications including vaccines and pharmaceuticals, as well as foodstuffs, paint, adhesives and chemicals. Serial numbers on every product provide for traceability in quality control systems.
Timestrip neo is the latest platform for a range of single use electronic temperature and time indicators that provide highly versatile operation at low cost. More accurate than liquid indicators, the electronic indicators have been specially developed to combine ease of use with a very small and light form factor. All Timestrip neo indicators are suitable for pack level monitoring with both time and multiple temperature settings.
âThe Timestrip neo platform technology can cover a very wide range of user needs. We have anticipated three of the most common applications with the Fridge Alarm and now the Freeze Alarm and Room Temperature indicators and will hold them in stock for rapid despatch.â
Gabriel McGlynn, Chairman of Timestrip.
Other configurations of time and temperature are available to order for quantities as low as 20,000 units. Contact us today for more information.
Timestrip will be showing off our time and temperature indicators at the Florida International Medical Expo in Miami from July 27 - July 29th, 2022.
FIME is the largest leading event in the medical device, sterilization, innoculation and equipment sector for the Americas.
This event is FREE! You can register at: FIME Show registration
We will be introducing our brand new electronic indicator at FIME. If you are attending, please stop by Booth J70 to get samples of our liquid indicators and learn about our newest electronic indicator.
Interested in knowing more about Timestrip & the Medical industry?
Here are some of the ways Timestrip is being used today:
Disinfection and sterilisation
Laparoscopes, arthroscopes, endoscopes, surgical and dental instruments and many other simple or complex instruments require thorough cleaning before disinfection and sterilization processes to remove inorganic and organic materials. Timestrip one hour time indicators are used by technicians to ensure that equipment is not left to stand for longer than the hour, prompting timely processing.
In one such application, the small Timestrips are attached to containers carrying complex medical instruments (endoscopes) for sterilisation, and with a single button press, the one-hour countdown process is started, at the end of a which a clear, unambiguous visual alert is shown
Blood supply monitoring
Tenet Healthcare used Blood Temp 10 temperature indicators to monitor blood transportation. These helped the company to comply with regulatory guidance by providing auditable proof that blood core temperature was maintained when returned to the blood bank. A survey by PDC Healthcare reported that the blood bag temperature indicators helped Tenet significantly improve blood transportation quality control and workflow efficiency.
Vaccine monitoring
Timestrip acted fast to develop vaccine monitoring solutions when coronavirus vaccines became available requiring deep freeze cold chain storage and transport down to -70C.
One solution is the VRM30 indicator shows the time that vaccines have been held in the chilled 2-8C range, and has markers for 1, 5 days up to 30 days, learn about our newest electronic indicator.
TradeReady, the blog for international trade experts, has listed its â10 Global trade trends weâll be watching in 2022â, and Timestrip has been listed as one of the top trends.
Noting advancements in cold chain technology, the survey reports: âVaccines need strict temperature-controlled storage to remain effective, which is why cold chain technology is big news these days. Enhanced temperature control and reporting systems are being implemented for carriers for vaccines, such as the Vaccine Freezer Monitor (VFM) system from Timestrip in Cambridge, UK. The survey then quotes from Inbound Logistics magazine to describe how the VFM indicators work.
It goes on to say that:
âAdvancements like these will be accelerated in 2022 to accommodate one of the worldâs most important commodities... the push to keep this pace going likely will only ramp up as 2022 rolls along.â
TradeReady is supported by the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT), a not-for-profit organization, and is based in Canada.
Read the original article on Trade Ready.
eTimestrip NFC App Available For iOS
TimestripÂź, the developer of smart indicator technology, has extended the capability of its electronic eTimestrip indicators with a new app for Apple users. The indicators feature a free app for iOS that allows users to benefit from downloadable reports.
The eTimestrip smart indicator range was launched at the start of the year, and has proved popular with users for detecting temperature breaches in the cold chain. Typically, the devices are deployed in 2-8°C fridge transports in pharmaceuticals, vaccines and food produce, though other temperature monitoring ranges are possible.
The TC489 uses near-field communication (NFC), so that users with a smartphone can download data from the device to PDF or Excel files, providing auditable evidence of temperature breaches. Both Android and Apple devices from iPhone 7 onwards are now supported. The detailed data report includes a record of the number of times the limit has been exceeded, the total time limit exceeded and alarm status.
Alternatively, the single use TC489 can be read simply by viewing the built in LED lights, which blink every 30 seconds, and indicate when the temperature has moved outside the upper or lower limits for 30 minutes. This enables anyone along the cold chain to check the status of the shipment without any special training or equipment,
making the small indicators an attractive alternative to conventional data loggers.
A simpler TC490 indicator is also available, with a 180-day service life and irreversible alarms, providing a highly cost effective solution to temperature monitoring.
We are pleased to be able to offer iOS users the same high quality, cost effective indicator solution that is enjoyed by our Android users. Whatever sector they are in, our clients gain peace of mind, knowing that their products have been properly stored and transported, all the way from manufacture to the point of use.
Nora Murphy, Commercial Director of Timestrip
Smart Indicator Avoids Wastage of Vaccine Supplies
TimestripÂź , the developer of smart indicator technology, has introduced a new irreversible temperature indicator that helps healthcare professionals avoid wastage of vaccines. Travelling with packs of vaccine vials, the Vaccine Freezer Monitor âVFM -7â°Câ is activated just when monitoring is required.
The indicator is started simply by pressing a button on the back, and can then quickly be placed in the packaging along with the frozen vaccine vials. From then on, VFM -7â°C follows the temperature precisely, and shows a clear alert if temperatures rise above -7â°C. In this case, the vaccine should be discarded or sent for examination.
A built-in window shows the duration of the breach up to 72 hours, but should temperatures rise well above the -7â°C set point, the window will fill faster, mirroring the effect of temperature on delicate vaccines.
VFM -7â°C can be activated at any point in the cold chain. The liquid based indicators are completely inert prior to use, and can be stored in freezer, fridge or room temperature. In addition to vaccines, the indicators can be used to protect other sensitive pharmaceutical products.
The smart labels are supplied with a leaflet explaining their correct use, and represent a highly cost effective solution for vials of typically 20-40 per outer pack.
Use of the VFM -7â°C avoids vaccine wastage and ensures vaccine efficacy is not compromised. It also
Nora Murphy, Commercial Director of Timestrip
encourages sound quality procedures throughout storage and transport of the valuable vaccine supplies.
Originally produced as a custom indicator, VFM -7â°C is now available for broader use in monitoring sensitive pharma products.
Timestrip smart indicators were used in a study by academics at Reading School of Pharmacy, part of The University of Reading, into peopleâs confidence in the quality of medicines.
The study focused on the potential re-use of returned medicines. It found that participantsâ intention to take part in medicines re-use increased with the presence of the TimestripÂź Plus temperature sensors on the packaging. The perceived social pressure to accept the medication also increased. The effect of the indicators was even greater than the promise of pharmacist visual checking of the medicines.
Although medicines re-use is not at present allowed in the UK, the presence of Timestrip indicators on packaging is understood to be a marker of their quality.
Ref: Lam, Y.; McCrindle, R.; Hui, T.K.L.; Sherratt, S.; Donyai, P. The Effect of Quality Indicators on Beliefs about Medicines Reuse: An Experimental Study. Pharmacy 2021, 9, x. https://doi.org/10.3390/xxxxx. Read more here: https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/9/3/128
TimestripŸ has introduced new time indicators to support the storage and handling of coronavirus vaccine supplies. These smart single use indicators provide an irreversible alert if the vaccine is stored in refrigerated conditions (2-8°C) for too long after thawing from deep freeze storage.
In an early case example, now that the Pfizer / Biontech vaccine has been approved for UK use, attention has turned to the logistics of supplying it to huge numbers of people. Timestrip indicators can travel with the vaccine supply and withstand the coldest storage temperatures e.g. down to -70°C, yet react when the vaccine consignment is thawed.
From the Timestrip vaccine range, the VRM30 indicator shows the time that vaccines have been held in the chilled 2-8°C range, and has markers for 1, 5 days up to 30 days, making it a suitable solution for the management of many vaccines including from Pfizer, Moderna / J&J and AstraZeneca. VRM30 is designed to compensate automatically for changes in temperature, responding more quickly in warmer conditions.
When the vaccine has been removed from the fridge into room temperature ready to be administered, a VOR12 indicator can be deployed to alert logistics and healthcare professionals that an 8°C threshold has been breached.
It will show the duration for which the vaccine has been Out of Refrigerator, as the indicator window gradually fills. A completely full window indicates that the maximum allowed storage period has been reached, and the vaccine may be compromised.
The eTimestrip range of electronic indicators comprises single use devices that generate a report via a mobile app, and provide detailed information on time and temperature to responsible healthcare staff. This report can be sent for centralised storage, eliminating the need to return the device itself for data analysis.
Conventionally, data loggers can be used in these applications, but the scale of the current challenge means that Timestripâs small, robust indicators are a lower cost, practical solution, while supporting compliance with regulations.
We continue to innovate at a rapid pace to provide cost effective monitoring solutions, considering the efforts of the WHO, FDA and government bodies in their respective countries. Our main objective is supporting healthcare teams as they provide safe care to nations worldwide.
Nora Murphy, Commercial Director
TimestripÂź, the developer of smart indicator technology, has released two new ranges designed to be used with the latest coronavirus vaccines now becoming available. The indicators track temperature and time, and will ensure that vaccines are fresh when administered to patients.
The Timestrip Vaccine Thaw Timer is an event thaw indicator with 24 hour time indication calibrated to run at fridge temperatures. It can be packed with vaccines that require storage at -70°C in the ultra-cold chain, and automatically starts monitoring as the vaccine is thawed and transferred to chilled conditions at the hospital or surgery. It then tracks the time from thaw at 6 hours, 12 hours and up to 24 hours, meeting the specifications for use from manufacturers such as Pfizer.
The Timestrip Vaccine Refrigeration Monitor range comprises three indicators. One is designed to indicate the thawing event of the vaccine; another will time 30 days duration in refrigerator conditions (2°C-8°C), helping the user to manage the vaccine manufacturerâs guidelines for use.
Then, when the vaccine has been taken from the refrigerator and prepared for use, a third indicator monitors how long it has been exposed to temperatures above 8°C, typically at room temperature. The time ârun outâ for the Vaccine Refrigeration Monitor VOR12 (Vaccine Out of Refrigerator) is up to 12 hours, with shorter times to an alert being seen at higher temperatures.
These Vaccine Refrigeration Monitor products will help overcome challenges in the handling of COVID-19 vaccines up to the point of administering, and are designed to support the manufacturersâ specification for the handling of vaccines such as those from Moderna.
Both indicators provide a clear irreversible indication to healthcare staff that conditions of storage and handling have exceeded acceptable conditions, and that the vaccine consignment cannot be relied upon.
Based on safe chemical technology, both the Vaccine Thaw Timer and Vaccine Refrigeration Monitor range overcome the limitations of batteries used at ultra-low temperatures.
We continue to innovate our patented technology to bring the benefits to important applications such as vaccine distribution, supply and last mile handling. Using these indicators, healthcare professionals worldwide can be supported cost effectively, and guided through soon to be routine practices of handling and managing these vital resources.
Nora Murphy, Commercial Director of Timestrip.
Timestrip has recently added other products to its range in response to coronavirus. These include an indicator to monitor antiviral solutions, and Rapid Diagnostics 15, a 15 minute timer indicator for use with rapid turnaround lateral flow test kits.
Novel Indicators Support the Fight Against Coronavirus
TimestripÂź , the developer of smart indicator technology, has moved fast to develop a range of products that support use of the coronavirus vaccines now promising to become available. Special liquid indicators have been created by Timestrip which can travel with the frozen vaccine supplies as they move from manufacture to the point of care, ensuring that any excess
temperature breach can be identified.
As one or more vaccines are planned for distribution, attention is focusing on the ultra-cold chain, as Covid-19 vaccines may need to be stored and transported at temperatures as low as -70C. Any breach of the specified temperature conditions is revealed by the new Timestrip smart labels with a clear irreversible indication.
After thawing, vaccines must be used quickly, usually within a few days, and Timestrip indicators are also available to monitor this critical period and alert medical staff to time expired product.
Antiviral treatments such as Gileadâs VEKLURYÂź product have also to be kept cool, and then after dilution, can be stored for between one and two days - depending on the storage temperature - prior to administration.
Timestrip indicators are available to monitor these conditions and automatically adjust the time to expiry as conditions change.
Other applications now being made available are a range of indicators for virus specimens as they are sent for laboratory testing. The Virus Specimen Transport (VST) series of indicators includes a time / temperature indicator (TTI) that mirrors the response of the virus specimens, and can alert healthcare organisations to compromised samples.
In yet another initiative, Timestrip has introduced âRapid Diagnostics 15â, a short term time indicator designed for use with the new rapid turnaround lateral flow test kits now being rolled out more widely.
As market leaders in the time and temperate indicator sector, we must play our part and support the great work being carried out during the pandemic. We are working to develop cost effective, bespoke solutions to support the regulatory bodies in their efforts to deliver product safely through the cold and ultra-cold supply chains.
Nora Murphy, Commercial Director of Timestrip