A Smart IoT-Based Environmental Monitoring System for Clinical Labs: Focus on Temperature, Humidity and Air Quality

Clinical laboratories require accurate and continuous environmental monitoring to ensure the integrity of biological samples, reagents, and laboratory instruments. Environmental deviations, especially in temperature and air quality, can compromise test accuracy and violate regulatory standards such as ISO 15189. This paper presents the design and development of a smart IoT-based environmental monitoring system tailored for clinical lab environments. The system focuses on real-time monitoring of laboratory freezer temperature, ambient room temperature, humidity, and air quality. It utilizes ESP32 microcontrollers integrated with DS18B20 temperature sensors, DHT11 temperature and humidity sensors, and MQ-135 gas sensors to provide comprehensive environmental surveillance. Data is transmitted via Wi-Fi to a cloud-based dashboard, offering remote access, historical data logging, and customizable alert mechanisms for threshold breaches. To optimize energy consumption, the system incorporates power-efficient features such as deep sleep modes and adaptive sampling intervals. The prototype demonstrates consistent and accurate performance in a working laboratory setting. By offering real-time insights and automated alerts, the system minimizes the risks associated with manual monitoring and enhances compliance readiness. The proposed solution is low-cost, modular, and scalable, making it suitable for deployment in both large and resource-limited clinical laboratories.