SpotSee’s freeze portfolio at a Glance
Key Takeaways:
- Descending temperature indicators are crucial for maintaining the integrity of temperature-sensitive products in cold chain shipping.
- SpotSee offers a range of indicators—ColdMark, FreezeSafe™, and ColdSNAP—each designed for specific applications and sensitivity levels.
- Ideal for biologics and vaccines, ColdMark provides reliable pre-freeze awareness with visual cues for immediate assessment.
- A cost-effective solution for less critical goods, FreezeSafe™ is perfect for high-volume distribution where temporary exposure is tolerable.
- ColdSNAP offers advanced protection for fragile, high-value products like chemotherapy drugs, ensuring even minor exposures are detected.
In cold chain shipping, maintaining the integrity of temperature-sensitive products is paramount. Even a brief exposure to freezing temperatures can compromise the safety and efficacy of products such as vaccines, biologics, and other critical pharmaceuticals. Descending temperature indicators can help.
These devices are essential for cold chain temperature monitoring, providing a visual cue of a product’s exposure to temperatures below a certain threshold. However, not all products require the same level of monitoring, so selecting the right indicator is crucial for ensuring product quality and safety.
SpotSee’s Freeze Portfolio at a Glance
SpotSee offers a comprehensive range of descending temperature indicators designed to meet diverse cold chain needs, including ColdMark®, FreezeSafe™, and ColdSNAP, each tailored for specific applications.
The recent acquisition of Telatemphas expanded SpotSee’s offerings, integrating ColdSNAP into its lineup. Let’s explore the differences between these indicators and their ideal applications, helping you make an informed choice for your cold chain products.
ColdMark: Reliable, Visual Pre-Freeze Awareness
ColdMark is a single-use, field-activated pre-freeze indicator designed for high-value shipments that cannot afford to freeze. This indicator is particularly suitable for biologics, vaccines, and certain diagnostics.
These temperature indicators provide clear, irreversible evidence of exposure to unacceptable low temperatures. When a shipment goes below the specified threshold, the indicator turns from clear to violet, alerting you to a potential cold chain breach.
Available in various temperature thresholds, the ColdMark 2°C serves as an effective pre-freeze indicator. Its visual activation window shows when temperatures approach this limit. With an accuracy of ±1°C / ±2°F, it allows you to intervene before product integrity is at risk. Use cases for ColdMark include biopharmaceuticals and critical reagents, where maintaining product integrity is of utmost importance.
FreezeSafe™: Scalable Monitoring for Broad-Tolerance Products
FreezeSafe™ is a simple, adhesive-based descending temperature indicator ideal for less critical but still sensitive goods. Field-friendly and suitable for broad tolerance applications, FreezeSafe™ is not a data logger but provides a cost-effective solution for cold chain temperature monitoring.
The FreezeSafe™ indicator provides accurate evidence if a product has experienced unacceptably low temperatures. It is a cost-effective solution that enables you to add an indicator to every shipment or mount it directly onto the product. Easy to use, FreezeSafe turns from clear to magenta when the temperature falls below its threshold. A simple visual check alerts the recipient if the temperature has been unacceptably cold.
It is beneficial for high-volume distribution where temporary exposure to freezing temperatures is tolerable but undesirable. Typical applications include pharmaceuticals, last-mile, specimens, chemicals, floral, and food and beverage.
ColdSNAP: Advanced Protection for Ultra-Sensitive Shipments
ColdSNAP, acquired through SpotSee’s acquisition of Telatemp, offers high-precision descending temperature monitoring for fragile, temperature-sensitive, and high-value shipments. Designed for ultra-sensitive products such as chemotherapy drugs, advanced cell therapies, and biologic injectables, ColdSNAP provides pre-activated, high-resolution performance with tight tolerances.
- ColdSNAP monitors your perishable products in transit or storage by providing a clear visual indication when they have been exposed to a critical cooling temperature, or to both a critical cooling and warming temperature.
- These miniature self-adhesive indicators have a 2°C accuracy bimetallic sensing element that snaps at its rated cold temperature, permanently turning an indicating window from clear to bright red.
The unique design, with rugged and all-mechanical plastic housing, eliminates delicate chemical sensors and fragile glass and requires no batteries.
As a premium product, it is ideal for the most delicate and mission-critical use cases, ensuring that even the slightest exposure to freezing temperatures is detected and addressed.
Which Indicator is Right for You?
Selecting the right descending temperature indicator for your cold chain products can be challenging, given the variety of options available. To simplify the decision-making process, we’ve compiled a quick comparison table that highlights the key features of SpotSee’s ColdMark, FreezeSafe, and ColdSNAP indicators. This table provides a concise overview of each product’s activation method, best use cases, sensitivity level, and typical applications, helping you quickly identify which indicator aligns best with your specific needs.
Quick Comparison Table
| Product | Activation Method | Best For | Sensitivity Level | Use Case Examples |
| ColdMark | No Activation Required | Pre-freeze awareness | High | Vaccines, blood, biologics |
| FreezeSafe™ | No Activation Required | High-volume | Moderate | Probiotics, OTC supplements, dairy |
| ColdSnap | Field-Activated | Fragile, high-value shipments | Very high | Chemo drugs, biologics, cell therapies |
The quick comparison table serves as a handy reference to distinguish between SpotSee’s ColdMark, FreezeSafe, and ColdSNAP indicators.
- ColdMark is ideal for high-sensitivity applications where pre-freeze awareness is critical, such as with vaccines and biologics.
- FreezeSafe offers a cost-effective solution for products, suitable for high-volume distribution of items like probiotics and supplements.
- ColdSNAP provides advanced protection for ultra-sensitive, high-value shipments, making it the preferred choice for chemotherapy drugs and biologic injectables.
By understanding the unique strengths of each indicator, you can make an informed decision that ensures the integrity and safety of your cold chain products.
How to Choose Based on Product Risk and Shipment Profile
The descending temperature indicator you choose depends on the product’s risk profile and shipment characteristics. For life-saving or therapeutic products, ColdSNAP or ColdMark are recommended due to their high sensitivity.
For valuable but not life-critical products, ColdMark is suitable. FreezeSafe™ is ideal for widely distributed but sensitive products. Additionally, consider the nature of your shipments—global shipments may require more robust monitoring compared to cross-campus deliveries.
Integration Tips for Logistics Teams
To maximize the effectiveness of descending temperature indicators, integrate them with standard operating procedures or receiving checklists. Use them in combination with coolers, validated shippers, and internal quality reviews. Compliance with standards such as the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, FDA regulations, and global pharma standards is also crucial for ensuring product safety and integrity.
Freeze Confidence Starts with the Right Indicator
Choosing the right descending temperature indicator is essential for avoiding product loss, protecting patients, and streamlining operations. SpotSee’s solutions are designed to give you control over cold chain temperature monitoring, regardless of budget, product type, or complexity. Explore the full SpotSee Freeze Portfolio to find the perfect fit for your needs, and reach out for personalized guidance.
