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Mean kinetic temperature (MKT) calculator

Paste logger readings and get MKT per ICH Q1A(R2) alongside min, max, mean and out-of-limit runs with durations.

Summary

Paste data or load the example to see MKT and excursion statistics.

MKT characterises the thermal exposure of a period; whether an excursion is acceptable depends on product-specific stability data, not on MKT staying below the label condition. This quick check does no data-quality gating — for a mapping study use the full workflow.

How the calculation works

  1. 01MKT (K) = (ΔH/R) / −ln[ Σ e^(−ΔH/(R T_i)) / n ], with T_i in kelvin and ΔH/R = 10 000 K (ΔH = 83.144 kJ/mol, R = 8.3144 J/(mol·K)).
  2. 02Excursions are consecutive readings outside the limits; duration = time from the first to the last reading in the run plus one sampling interval (median spacing).

Limitations

  • MKT summarises thermal exposure for storage assessment. It does not justify an excursion above a product's limit — product-specific stability data do that.
  • This is a quick check, not a mapping analysis: no data-quality gating for gaps, flatlines or unit ambiguity.
  • Readings are assumed to be in °C.

Frequently asked questions

Why is MKT higher than the average temperature?
Because degradation rates rise exponentially with temperature (Arrhenius), warmer periods are weighted more heavily. MKT equals the mean only for a constant temperature.
Can MKT be used to release a product after an excursion?
Only if the product's stability documentation explicitly allows it. Regulators expect excursion assessments to rest on product-specific data; MKT is for characterising storage conditions over a period.
What format does the paste box accept?
One reading per line; commas, semicolons, tabs or spaces as separators; the last number on each line is the temperature and anything before it is read as a timestamp if it parses (ISO 8601 works best). Header lines are skipped.

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Read the theory

GDP / GMP

Mean kinetic temperature (MKT): what it is and when to use it

MKT is a single temperature that represents the cumulative thermal stress of a varying temperature history, weighted by the Arrhenius relationship. It is useful for storage assessment, not for hiding excursions.

2026-09-13 · 2 min read
GDP / GMP

Handling temperature excursions in storage and distribution

An excursion is a deviation: contain, record, assess product impact against stability data, decide, and learn. The record must show all five steps.

2026-09-13 · 2 min read
GDP / GMP

Storage condition labels explained: 2–8 °C, 15–25 °C, 'do not freeze'

Label storage conditions derive from stability studies under ICH conditions. Each phrase has a defined meaning that sets the limits for mapping, monitoring and excursion assessment.

2026-09-13 · 2 min read
Temperature Mapping

Data-quality checks before analysing mapping data

Statistics computed on bad data are precise and wrong. Check the data first.

2026-09-13 · 2 min read

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