What is a cold chain temperature excursion log?
A temperature excursion is any time the product temperature leaves the range it must be kept in, such as 2 to 8 °C for many medicines, or the range set by the regulator or product owner for chilled food. An excursion log records each reading, each time the temperature left the range and came back, what caused it, what was done and whether the product was accepted, held or rejected. Customers and auditors ask for exactly this record.
This Excel cold chain temperature log template holds the readings for each shipment and compartment, adds up the minutes out of range, compares them with the tolerance you agreed, and gives you a printable summary per shipment.
How to use the cold chain temperature log
- Add each shipment and compartment with its allowed range and tolerance, as agreed with the product owner or customer.
- Paste the readings from your data logger or vehicle system into the Reading log, with the minutes each reading covers.
- Record every excursion with its cause, action and quality decision.
- Record door openings, especially at drops.
- Choose the shipment on Settings and print the Shipment summary for the customer.
How minutes out of range are calculated
In the example, SH-201-A had two readings above 8 °C, 8.6 and 9.1, each covering 15 minutes: 30 minutes out of range, which equals the 30-minute tolerance. SH-203-A had three readings above 8 °C, so 45 minutes, over tolerance, and the product was put on hold.
How to record a temperature excursion
For each excursion, record when it started and ended, the worst reading, whether an alert arrived, the cause, what was done and who decided what happens to the product. The log calculates the duration and marks excursions longer than the shipment's tolerance. A clear cause, such as a long door opening or a unit defrost during a stop, is what helps you prevent the next one.
Door openings and temperature
Long door openings at drops are a common cause of excursions. The door log records each opening with its reason and duration, and marks openings longer than the limit on Settings, 10 minutes by default. In the example, both drops for SH-201-A were over the limit, which matches when its temperature rose.
Shipment evidence for customers and audits
The Shipment summary pulls together the details, range, number of readings, lowest and highest reading, minutes out of range, door openings, result and latest quality decision for one shipment, with space for a signature. Print it or save it as PDF and send it with the delivery record.
Limits of a spreadsheet temperature log
The log works on the readings you give it. It does not read sensors, and minutes out of range are only as precise as the reading interval: readings every 15 minutes cannot show a 5-minute spike. Ranges and tolerances must come from the product owner, and the template is not a substitute for the quality procedures your products require.