BrightSentinel Ltd. - Blog #Human Assisted ReproductionBrightSentinel Ltd. - Blog #Human Assisted Reproductionhttps://www.brightsentinel.com/blogs/tag/human-assisted-reproductionMon, 06 Apr 2026 17:12:27 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Case 3: The Phantom of the Heated Stage]]>https://www.brightsentinel.com/blogs/post/case-3-the-phantom-of-the-heated-stageThings that go bump in the night ...  "It is surprising how temperature flows in a lab can impact on equipment." Lab C: Something is odd ]]>

Case 3:
The Phantom of the Heated Stage

Things that go bump in the night ... 
"It is surprising how temperature flows in a lab can impact on equipment."

The Phantom of the Heated Stage

Lab C: Something is odd with the heated stage. I've been doing some tests and I don't think it is the loggers... but I’m stumped!

We log the temperature of our heated stage 24/7 with the BrightSentinel loggers. Lately, I've been noticing that the temperature readings for the left-back side of the heated stage drops by a few degrees more than the other 3 loggers every morning; the trough is around 5.00 am. By 7.30 am the readings are back within temperature range and are consistent throughout the day.

What makes it doubly odd is that the Day/Night Report indicates that the temperature recorded by all 4 loggers on the heated stage increases slightly overnight but this particular logger goes crazy and drops every morning like clockwork! What do you think is happening?


BrightSentinel: Do you have an air-vent above the left side of that heated stage?


Lab C: Yes, we do. Surely it can’t be the air vent? It has been there all along.


BrightSentinel: OK. Let’s try an experiment. Would you mind sticking a sheet of paper over the air vent so that we can eliminate the air vent?


Lab C: Ha ha! I’ll probably get in trouble with OH&S for doing this but let’s give it a try. I’ll be in touch in a couple of days.


BrightSentinel: OK. Good luck and be careful.


Four days later …


Lab C: Interesting! By using the sheet of paper, the logger on the left side of that heated stage did not cool down as much but it was still noticeable.


It turns out that Building Maintenance recently implemented some energy saving measures. When the building is empty in the evenings, the temperature is allowed to rise a couple of degrees. Every morning, before the building fills up with people, the system kicks in to bring the environmental temperature back to the acceptable level. The building maintenance manager was surprised to hear this and see the graphs. The temperature level and flow into the lab is being fixed. Thanks!

Below is a graphical representation of the temperature recording that made this embryologist aware that she needed to get to the bottom of the temperature fluctuation that was happening.
Conclusion
Temperature data captured consistently over time provides valuable insights ... some more obvious than others! 
]]>Wed, 07 Jul 2021 08:02:49 +0000<![CDATA[Case 1: The Unwell Well]]>https://www.brightsentinel.com/blogs/post/case-1-the-unwell-wellInteresting conversations often start with "something is odd" ... "The temperature readout of the incubator says all is fine.  Howev ]]>

Case 1: The Unwell Well

Interesting conversations often start with "something is odd" ...

"The temperature readout of the incubator says all is fine. However, the temperature graphs of the BrightSentinel system are saying a different story!"

The Unwell Well

Lab A: I think something is odd! The loggers are recording different temperatures in the different wells of an incubator. Do you think the loggers could be faulty?


BrightSentinel: The loggers may be faulty. First, let’s check whether they are. Would you mind swapping the loggers around?

Meaning, if logger A is reading the left well and logger B is reading the right well, them place logger A in the right well and logger B in the left well for 24 hours.


Lab A: OK, will do. Speak soon.

Three days later …


Lab A: Hey, you are right! The buttons are reading correctly and the temperature of the incubator well is consistently out. I actually swapped out the loggers again and consistent result. Looks like I’d better call the technician. Thanks.
Below is a graphical representation of the temperature recordings on the BrightSentinel Cloud, which triggered the awareness and conversation above. Can you spot the anomaly?
Conclusion
Quality control, the unsung hero, is so important.
Get in touch if you need help with your temperature monitoring.
]]>Wed, 07 Jul 2021 08:02:49 +0000<![CDATA[Case 2: The Drifting Incubator]]>https://www.brightsentinel.com/blogs/post/case-2-the-drifting-incubator  What the drift is happening? "The temp erature readout of the incubator reads within range but the temp erature data collected by the Bri ]]>

Case 2:
The Drifting Incubator

 What the drift is happening?

"The temperature readout of the incubator reads within range but the temperature data collected by the BrightSentinel system is noticeably different!"

The Drifting Incubator

Lab B: Something is odd. We have a logger in an incubator well. Over the past few days, the logger is recording consistently different temperatures compared with the displayed readings of the incubator. Not by much but consistently different to be noticeable.

I've been watching this for a few days and the difference is increasing. What do you think might be the issue?


BrightSentinel: Be aware that the uncertainty of measurement of the incubator temperature probe may be higher than that of the BrightSentinel logger. Also, note that the position of the temperature sensor in the incubator may be located in a different location to that of the BrightSentinel logger in the well.


Lab B: I had not considered this...

BrightSentinel: Let’s work by elimination through a series of steps.

  1. Check that the incubator is plugged into the power point properly. If it is, go to the next step.

  2. Place another logger in the well with the existing one and monitor for a couple of days. If the loggers are reading consistently the same temperature and the digital reading of the incubator is different, then it is likely to be the incubator.

  3. Check when the incubator was last serviced. Time for a service?

  4. Check the age of the incubator. As machines age, they tend to require servicing more often.


Lab B: OK, will do.

Below is a graphical representation of the temperature recordings on the BrightSentinel Cloud.....
Conclusion

BrightSentinel loggers are verified and calibrated to ISO17025, with an uncertainty of measurement of ±0.05º C.


Outliers are much more easily spotted when measurements are taken 24/7. The graphs and reporting provided in the BrightSentinel system quickly highlight "odd" instances; sharpening your awareness and saving you the guess work.
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