--- title: Cherwell | Environmental Monitoring – Remote or Delay Start? description: Our blog highlighting the benefits of remote or delayed start of microbial air samplers used as part of your environmental monitoring programme image: https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hubfs/Delayed%20Start%20Air%20Sampler.jpg --- [![analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png?width=200&height=43&name=analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png "analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB")](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/) [![Analytichem](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png?width=200&height=56&name=analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png "Analytichem")](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/) Search # Environmental Monitoring – Remote or Delay Start? ![](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hubfs/Marketplace/Cherwell%20Labs/imgs/icons/cherwell-icon-45.svg) *By Gill Power* ## Reducing contamination risk during environmental monitoring (EM) When monitoring areas at rest it is important that the operator setting the samples doesn’t influence the sample result.  Placing [settle plates](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/products/redipor-prepared-media/poured-plates/) and/or setting up [active air samplers](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/products/sas-microbial-monitoring/) presents a contamination risk.  This could lead to false positives which create a lot of unnecessary investigative work, which is both time consuming and costly. ![Checking_Redipor_S](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Checking_Redipor_S-2.jpg?width=225&height=217&name=Checking_Redipor_S-2.jpg) As EM plates or active air samplers have to be placed at the sample location, there is always a risk the operators presence will interfere with the result. Careful siting of the plate or sampler, followed by controlled extraction from the area are key. One option with most active air samplers, is to delay the start of the sample until the operator has left the area and a number of air changes have been completed. ### [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2885977/b8f64dd6-6443-4623-89fe-c26de883f973.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2885977/b8f64dd6-6443-4623-89fe-c26de883f973) ### Advantages of remote or delayed start A remote or delayed start allows any impact from the operator to be ‘cleaned’ from the area.  Most modern air samplers have either a programmable delayed start and/or a remote start using something similar to a key fob.  The remote start fob is convenient as the user can activate the sampler when they wish, once they have vacated the area. This can be useful if exit time is difficult to predict.  However, generally there must be clear line of sight to the sampler and the sampler must be within range of the fob signal.  This is not always possible in complex clean room suites.  It would be immensely frustrating if once the operator has exited the suite they discover the sampler won’t start.  Also, within busy EM labs and due to the size of them, remote fobs can be easily lost. ![Cherwell's SAS Duo portable air sampler this active air sampler is used for environmental monitoring and needs regular calibration](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/sas-duo-portable-air-sampler-259x259-1.jpg?width=259&height=259&name=sas-duo-portable-air-sampler-259x259-1.jpg)![SAS microbial air sampler for environmental monitoring with delay start ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/sas-screen-delay-288x259.jpg?width=288&height=259&name=sas-screen-delay-288x259.jpg) The [SAS range of microbial air samplers](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/products/sas-microbial-monitoring/) have a programmable delay start function as standard. The user simply selects a predefined value between 1 and 60 minutes for the delay, presses start then leaves the area.  This option allows more than one sampler to be set up to run, possibly with differing delays.  There are no concerns about which one may have started using the remote option.  The inbuilt audible alarm and LED advises the user when the sampler is running and when it has finished. Meaning they can promptly re-enter the space and continue with the sampling programme. Most cleanroom suites have complex EM sampling plans with a large number of samples to be taken.  Any hold up in successful sampling because samplers have not run, is time consuming and costly, both in operator time and repeated entry to the suite. Please don't hesitate to [contact us](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/contact-us/contact-form/) if you would like more information or a [quote](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/products/request-a-quote/) on our SAS active air sampler range. Comments ## Read other blog articles [ *By Martin Sketchley* #### Optimisation of Your Environmental Monitoring Workflow – Locking Plates vs Traditional Plates ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/optimisating-your-em-workflow-locking-plates-vs-traditional-plates) [ *By Martin Sketchley* #### Data Integrity in Environmental Monitoring – Locking Plates vs Standard Plates ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/data-integrity-environmental-monitoring-locking-plates-vs-standard-plates) [ *By Martin Sketchley* #### Sample Security in Environmental Monitoring – Locking Plates vs Traditional Plates ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/sample-security-locking-plates-vs-standard-plates) ### Sign Up for our Blog We promise that we won't SPAM you. #### What's next #### Recent news [![Specialist products for boosting microbial EM protocol reliability spotlighted by AnalytiChem UK at Pharmig 2025](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Redipor%20TwistLock%20Contact%20Plates%20with%20GS1%20DataMatrix%20Codes.png?width=50&height=50&name=Redipor%20TwistLock%20Contact%20Plates%20with%20GS1%20DataMatrix%20Codes.png) **Specialist products for boosting microbial EM protocol reliability spotlighted by AnalytiChem UK at Pharmig 2025** 10 November 2025 ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/analytichem-uk-highlight-specialist-em-products-pharmig-2025-annual-conference) [![New AnalytiChem UK appointment strengthens customer focus and growth strategy](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Tom%20Pickford%20AnalytiChem%20UK%20Business%20Development%20Manager%20Midlands.jpg?width=50&height=50&name=Tom%20Pickford%20AnalytiChem%20UK%20Business%20Development%20Manager%20Midlands.jpg) **New AnalytiChem UK appointment strengthens customer focus and growth strategy** 20 October 2025 ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/new-analytichem-uk-appointment-strengthens-customer-focus-and-growth-strategy) #### Subscribe Receive the latest articles as they are published. #### Contact us Registered Office 7 & 8 Launton Business Centre, Murdock Road, Bicester, OX26 4XB **Phone** Tel: +44 (0) 1869 355 500 **Email** [sales.uk@analytichem.com](mailto:sales.uk@analytichem.com)    ![analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png?width=2000&height=431&name=analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png "analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB") ![BSI-ISO-9001-Certified-50px](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/BSI-ISO-9001-Certified-50px.png?width=130&height=77&name=BSI-ISO-9001-Certified-50px.png "BSI-ISO-9001-Certified-50px") AnalytiChem UK ©2025 (Formerly Cherwell) Reg. in England No: 01159518 VAT Reg. 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