.jpeg)
When time is of the essence, use redundant online sensors for Critical Process Parameters (CPPs) such as pH and dissolved oxygen (DO).
Even if you follow strict maintenance schedules and operational best practices, key sensors can fail at inopportune times (i.e. in the middle of a batch). If you lose the ability to monitor, and therefore control, key parameters such as pH or DO, you have effectively lost the batch.
If you contract work out to a CDMO or CMO, they should not charge you for a batch in which they lost control of pH or DO due to a sensor failure. Whether or not you get charged up to the point of failure or for the raw materials and consumables will be determined by your contract. Even if you have no out-of-pocket responsibility, you still lost precious time. The result of every batch is time-sensitive, and you cannot overstate the risk of losing a batch and not being able to replace it for a period of weeks or months because your CDMO / CMO is fully booked.
If you are running fermentations internally and experience a sensor failure, you have significant direct and indirect costs. The direct costs include your team’s time (wages) and morale, plus utilities, raw materials, and consumables. The indirect costs are hard to quantify, but could be dramatic - what if you need the data to inform a decision about an upcoming manufacturing campaign, or you need the sample to sign a key prospective client?
Growth Curve Bio uses duplicate pH and DO sensors in our pilot-scale fermentations. Even if one pH and one DO sensor fail, we can switch the control loop to a secondary probe and continue the batch as planned. This ensures our clients get the data and samples they need, when they need it.
