NIST-traceable calibration and certificates
NIST-traceable means the probe was checked against reference standards that link, through an unbroken and documented chain of calibrations, to the national standards kept by NIST. On LoggerFlex the certificate belongs to the probe, not the logger: each probe carries a 16-character ID and a QR code, anyone can look its certificate up without logging in, it is valid 3 years in use (5 years on the shelf), and you renew it by plugging in a newly calibrated probe, with no RMA and no lab shipment.
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What NIST-traceable means
NIST, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, defines metrological traceability as a measurement result that can be related to a reference through a documented, unbroken chain of calibrations, each one adding to the stated uncertainty. A traceable certificate therefore tells you what the probe was compared against, how, and with what uncertainty.
Traceability describes the measurement chain behind one probe; it is not a product approval. That is why the certificate is tied to the probe's own ID rather than to the logger it plugs into.
What the certificate shows
The lookup returns a short record and the full certificate as a PDF.
- The probe's 16-character identification number, the same one printed on the probe and encoded in its QR code.
- The certificate's issue date and its current status: Valid or Expired.
- The full PDF, with the calibration procedure, the measurement uncertainties and the traceability to national standards.
- On the EDGE Pharma One and Two probe: a manufacturer-issued certificate from a 1-point test at a point between -2 °C and +2 °C (28 °F and 36 °F). A multi-point calibration or a certificate from an accredited laboratory is available through LoggerFlex Support.
Validity and renewal
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Valid in use | 3 years from the certificate date, for a probe deployed on a logger. |
| Valid on the shelf | 5 years for a probe still in its packaging. |
| On the logger | EDGE models with a display show the certificate status, with a 60-day countdown as expiry nears. |
| In LF Cloud | The lookup shows Valid or Expired, and LF Cloud emails a reminder before the certificate lapses. |
| Renewal | Plug in a newly calibrated probe from your distributor. The logger stays in place: no RMA, no lab shipment, no monitoring gap. |
| Probe drift | About 0.01 °C (0.02 °F) a year between -20 °C and +25 °C (-4 °F and +77 °F), as stated for the EDGE Pharma One and Two probe. |
Look up a certificate
No account and no login are needed, so an inspector or auditor can check a probe on their own.
- Open the LF Cloud sign-in page: app.loggerflex.com
- Click Calibration Certificate Lookup.
- Enter the 16-character ID printed on the probe and click Lookup, or simply scan the QR code on the probe with a phone camera.
- Read the issue date and the status, then click the date to open or download the certificate PDF.
Signed in, each device's attributes page also shows the latest calibration date with a Download certificate button.
Which products ship with a NIST-traceable probe
| Product | NIST-traceable probes | Probe |
|---|---|---|
| EDGE Pharma One WiFi / Cellular | One, included | Temp. Probe + NIST + Vial (part DS15NB): -20 °C to +50 °C (-4 °F to +122 °F), ±0.5 °C (±0.9 °F), in a food-grade ethanol vial. |
| EDGE Pharma Two WiFi / Cellular | Two, included | Temp. Probe + NIST + Vial (part DS15NB): -20 °C to +50 °C (-4 °F to +122 °F), ±0.5 °C (±0.9 °F), in a food-grade ethanol vial. |
| Other EDGE models with probe ports | Optional, up to two per logger | NIST-traceable versions of the external digital probe, for any point where a certificate is required. The standard probe covers -55 °C to +125 °C (-67 °F to +257 °F) and is rated ±0.5 °C (±0.9 °F) from -10 °C to +85 °C (+14 °F to +185 °F). Digital temperature probe |
| Microthermo | None | The single-use NFC tag has no NIST certificate. |
The Pharma probe reads down to -20 °C (-4 °F). A freezer that runs colder needs a different probe: talk to us before you specify one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to send the logger back to have it recalibrated?
No. Calibration lives with the probe, so you replace the probe rather than the logger: order a newly calibrated probe from your distributor, unplug the old one and plug the new one in. There is no RMA and no lab shipment, and because LF Cloud flags an approaching expiry, the swap can be planned into a routine visit.
How long is a NIST certificate valid?
Three years in use, or five years on the shelf. Five years applies to a probe still in its packaging; a probe deployed in a fridge, freezer or cold room follows the three-year in-use life. EDGE models with a display count down the last 60 days on screen, and LF Cloud emails a reminder before the certificate lapses.
Can an inspector check a certificate without our login?
Yes. On the LF Cloud sign-in page, Calibration Certificate Lookup takes the probe's 16-character ID, or the inspector scans the QR code on the probe with a phone camera. No login is needed. The lookup shows the issue date and the status, Valid or Expired, and opens the full certificate PDF.
Is the certificate issued by an accredited laboratory?
The standard certificate is manufacturer-issued and NIST-traceable; on the EDGE Pharma One and Two probe it comes from a 1-point test at a point between -2 °C and +2 °C (28 °F and 36 °F). For a multi-point calibration or a certificate from an accredited laboratory, contact LoggerFlex Support before you order.