Water activity is greatly affected by temperature, thus its standardized at 25°C and that is the temperature used by regulatory agencies.

Temperature control assures higher accuracy results, provides a constant equilibrated environment for repeatable testing and complies with regulatory testing that is carried out at 25°C.

The calibration standard salts that come with the unit are used in two ways. They are used for calibration, so there is always an accurate curve to compare your samples to. They are also meant to provide you with a means for verification daily. This way you can identify any drift in your readings and correct it or call us for support,

Yes, you can certainly use the standards multiple times. These salts are NOT disposable. They have a shelf life of 2–4 years depending on factors such as storage conditions (storage container must be well closed), frequency of use, exposure to light and the value of the standard.

Calibration frequency is based on your internal SOP but a good rule of thumb is to carry out a calibration at least once per month and to carry out a verification at the start of each day.

Yes, the Novasina units in conjunction with special protective filters can be used to measure samples that contain volatiles. We strongly recommend the use of filters if there is any doubt to protect and prolong the life of the sensor.

No, Novasina units are very simple to use and do not require much maintenance. We suggest keeping the units clean and wiping them down at the end of each day with a cloth and keeping the measuring chamber clean and free of debris. Also, we recommend having a PM (Preventative Maintenance) completed once a year to keep the unit running in top condition.

Yes, Neutec provides 3 different services for the water activity units. A PM (Preventative Maintenance) service, a VC (Verification Calibration) service and a CC (Certified Calibration) service. All three of the services come with completion documents and the Certified Calibration is also 21 CFR Part 11 compliant from a government certified laboratory.

A PM (preventative maintenance) is a proactive measure taken to ensure that your unit does not suffer any damage due to preventable issues caused by wear and tear and that it continues to run like new for years to come. A PM is completed by performing a full “tune up” of the unit, which includes full diagnostics, calibration, replacement of pre-filters, internal sterilization, cleaning and certification.

It will mainly depend on the sample itself, as different materials release water at different rates. Our units report the AW value once the equilibrium point has been reached. Yet you can stop the unit at any time and take a reading. Waiting to reach stability is the most accurate method. Speeding this process may result in inaccurate results generated and recorded.

These specially designed filters shall be mounted in front of the sensor and used to provide protection against chemical contamination and degradation of the resistive electrolytic sensor element.
As the inner part of the sensor consists of a liquid, volatiles which dissolve and dissociate are extremely dangerous and harm the sensor in a very short time.
Be aware that sensor failure due to chemical contamination by NOT using an appropriate chemical filter is not covered by warranty and replacement goes 100% on the user's account.
For that reason, it is inevitable to check sample composition for volatiles PRIOR to order the instrument. We will ask you those questions and will hand you this document for signing.
We fully understand if sample compositions and/or recipes cannot be shared with us but somehow we must gather the information, respectively ensure, that we can offer the best possible solution for a reliable, accurate and repeatable water activity measurement of your samples.
Many questions about changing interval were and are brought to our attention. Unfortunately, there is no precise guideline but a rule of thumb:
 If you do less or equal than 10 measurements a week, change filter every 6-12 months
 If you do more than 10 measurements a week, change filter every 3-6 months
 If instrument is in use, day and night, change filter every 2 months
Please read the operating instruction manual of the water activity meter as well to learn about the procedure how to find out the optimal chemical filter changing interval. It is important that the filter is changed from time to time as it is of saturation type. Once saturated, volatiles will pass through and harm the sensor.
Be aware that sometimes filter combinations must be used to get highest protection efficiency. As soon as ethanol is involved, our alcohol-resilient sensor (CM-3 or awSens-ELS) must be used. If ethanol is present in conjunction with other volatiles, select the alcohol-resilient sensor plus the respective filter(s) from the selection list.
Note that chemical filters will extend the measurement time as the water vapor has to pass through the filter but it will not affect the measurement value.
If you have doubts about the procedure or feel unsure how to work that out, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Download the Filter Selection Guide PDF from any water activity meter product page