Stable pH levels are critical in cell culture and for normal intracellular processes. All labs should have the resources to optimize their culture environment, starting with determining the true pH of their culture system. The pH reference service caters to two types of customers:
- Customers that require a blood gas analyzer to determine the pH of their culture media
- Customers that require assistance with the site standardization protocol for the TrakStation®
About the pH Reference Service
What is the pH Reference Service?
If you do not have access to a pH measuring device, do not have confidence in your measurement device, or wish for outside suggestions on your current lab pH practices, we offer on-site reference sample services. The SAFE Sens company will send a media pH technician to perform multiple on-site pH services, including:
- Culture media pH reads for requested media types
- Assistance with pH replication protocols
- Completion site standardization services for requested media types
- On-site consultations on current pH values and potential causes for unexpected values
- Post-site online support and data analysis of results
What are the Limitations of Using the Medium Certificate of Compliance?
The certificate of compliance (COC) is the least preferred reference for media site standardization, and should only be used if no other direct pH measurements exist. When using the COC, several key assumptions are made:
1. You have duplicated the incubator environmental conditions that the media manufacturer used during their pH measurements
2. The media in the sv2 sensor cups has fully equilibrated to the levels expected for the CO2 and temperature.
The best option for site standardization is to make a direct measurement from another media sample, in the same incubator, using a reference pH measurement tool.
What are the Benefits of the pH Reference Service?
The pH Reference Service offers the benefit of high accuracy pH sampling without the high costs associated with purchasing a mobile blood gas analyzer (BGA). It also offers the lab increased flexibility when spot-checking pH, including:
Initial competency or measurement traceability testing of pH equipment
Annual site standardization analysis
Quarterly, Biannual, or Annual QC Analysis for media pH
pH value analysis in faulty equipment
The pH reference service also adds value through personalized consultations provided on-site for the lab’s embryo culture system.
Do I Need to Have/Purchase a TrakStation to Participate in This Service?
No. Any lab interested in pH value analysis and a media pH consultation is welcome to contact us for more information on the program.
How Our Reference Sample Service Works
Included in Our pH Service Package:
- Travel to site for one (1) technician
- Two (2) hours on-site time in the lab
- Measurement of four (4) pH data points by portable blood gas analyzer (optional to prearrange additional pH measurements)
- Documented records of pH measurements for your files
- pH measurement result consultation
- Assistance/guidance to correctly adjust TrakPods and assistance in using the TrakStation tablet
Before Your Site Visit
We set you up for success from the start. After discussing your unique pH needs and scheduling your service package, we will coordinate with your lab, including detailed equipment instructions and critical information on how to prepare pH samples prior to our on-site visit.
One (1) Day Prior to Site Visit
- We will request for you to prepare pH reference sample containers as instructed
- We will have you prepare sv2 sensors and place them in your incubator(s)
During The Site Visit
- Our pH technician will arrive at the pre-scheduled time to start the service.
- Our technician will ask for an overview of incubator equipment and the locations of the pH samples
- The technician will use a portable blood gas analyzer to take pH reference measurements
- Assist with running a site standardization protocol on the TrakStation
- Discuss pH reference results with your lab point of contact
- Review causes of pH changes that occur over the course of embryo culture
- Create a report to document pH readings
Follow-Up
- Touch base one (1) week later about pH monitoring results.*
- * requires transmission of data from TrakStation either via internet or email.
