New Laboratory Balance Meets High Reliability Requirements for Regulated Areas

A new laboratory balance incorporates technology that enables minimization of error rates and provides the high reliability of weighing procedures required for applications in regulated areas such as pharmaceutical laboratories.

The new Secura laboratory balance developed by Sartorius (Goettingen, Germany) includes several important features. Automatic calibration: Since minor temperature fluctuations in the lab have considerable influence on the reproducibility of weighing results, balances must be calibrated regularly and immediately upon ambient condition change. Secura automatically monitors its ambient conditions to help prevent handling errors, thereby increasing measurement reliability. Upon reaching a specified time or temperature threshold, Secura’s calibration and adjustment function, isoCAL, informs the user and automatically adjusts the balance using internal weights. Every adjustment is documented and can be traced for quality assurance purposes. Leveling system: Precise leveling of a balance is an essential component of equipment monitoring and a prerequisite for obtaining accurate readings. The electronic LevelControl sensor ensures that the balance is level. Noncompliance is indicated visually in the display and blocks output of the reading. Clear instructions in the display guide the user through the leveling procedure. Lab staff can level the Secura balance without opening a safe-work area. Secura further increases reliability and lowers error rates by indirect selection of high-confidence measurements: being equipped with various automated assistance systems designed to prevent further processing of uncertain weighing results (which frequently occur through operating errors during weighing), the balance identifies uncertain weighing results in the display and blocks their transmission.

As part of meeting FDA-specified requirements for balances in regulated areas, pharmaceutical laboratories must determine the minimum sample weight (MSW) according to the USP (United States Pharmacopeia) on site, and measurements must not fall below this limit. On request, Sartorius service staff will determine this value during first operation of the Secura balance and issue a MSW certificate. The value will then be constantly visible in the balance display. If a measurement falls below the specified MSW, an alert will appear in the display and Secura will block printout and transmission of the reading.

The user interface of the Secura balance has been developed in collaboration with experienced users. Weighing applications are represented as clearly understandable icons on the touchscreen, allowing users to touch-launch any of the programs without reading the operating manual. Secura only displays information required for the particular operation. Color-coded information and action fields help further minimize operating errors. Settings that could change data output or metrological performance can be password-protected so that access is restricted to authorized persons only. The Sartorius Secura balance is available in nine models covering a range of weighing capacities from 120 grams to 5,100 grams, and a readability of 0.1 to 10 milligrams.

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