APERA INSTRUMENTS / PH850-MT / AI5545

Meat sampling.
A protected blade spear, a clear record.

PH850-MT pairs the PH850 Value-series instrument with the LabSen 763 titanium-body blade spear pH/temperature electrode. The configuration is intended for direct measurement of prepared meat and fish samples, with a removable titanium blade sheath around the glass sensing tip.

Choose the meat-specific blade configuration for a controlled sampling station or portable quality workflow. The blade is protection for a glass sensor, not permission to force it through hard-frozen material, bone or tough connective tissue. Work within the probe limits and record results separately.

A sheath designed around meat sampling

LabSen 763 combines a spear glass membrane with a titanium blade sheath. The blade can be unscrewed for separate cleaning when necessary, as described in the electrode manual. Avoid bending the spear while entering or withdrawing from a sample. Protective construction does not make any glass electrode breakproof.

Temperature travels with the pH probe

The integrated NTC 30 kΩ sensor supplies temperature through the RCA connector, while the BNC connector carries pH. This keeps temperature sensing in the electrode assembly rather than a separate loose probe. The supplied LabSen 763 is specified for 0 to 80°C, narrower than the meter temperature display range.

A sealed reference and readable instrument

Polymer electrolyte, a ceramic plus single-pore junction and the long-life reference system support direct sample contact without routine internal refilling. PH850 shows pH and temperature on a backlit screen, with stability and calibration indicators. Its IP57 instrument enclosure and protective sleeve support portable handling, not rough treatment of the glass tip.

Know what this configuration supplies.

Prepared fresh-meat portions

Use a defined anatomical location or representative portion under your sampling plan. Avoid bone, hard inclusions and excessive resistance. Identify the cut, lot, sample temperature and preparation so differences between readings can be interpreted rather than attributed to the instrument alone.

Fish and meat-product development

The LabSen 763 manual identifies meat and fish applications. Compare like-for-like prepared samples and rinse thoroughly between portions. The meter measures pH, not protein content, pathogens or freshness, and does not replace the other tests required by your process.

Products received frozen

The manufacturer describes frozen-meat use, but the electrode specification starts at 0°C and warns against bending the spear. Prepare or condition a sacrificial portion by an appropriate procedure; do not force the probe into hard-frozen product or claim validated below-zero performance.

Choose the sampling point.
Never lever the blade.

Attach the blue BNC and black RCA connectors securely while keeping both dry. Remove the storage bottle and rinse the sensing end with distilled or deionized water. With a newly connected LabSen 763, perform at least two-point calibration. PH850 supports one to three automatic points; in USA mode start at pH 7.00 and use an appropriate additional standard such as pH 4.00 for acidic measurements.

Set aside a representative sacrificial portion and follow your established handling and contamination-control procedure. Prepare an accessible contact path with a separate suitable tool if required. Keep insertion and withdrawal aligned with the probe rather than bending or twisting it. Stop when resistance is excessive; a blade sheath is not a guarantee against glass damage.

Let the electrode and sample equilibrate within 0 to 80°C, then read stable pH and temperature. Record the sampling position, preparation and sample ID immediately. Temperature compensation adjusts electrode response, not the meat chemistry itself. Do not compare measurements taken under different preparation conditions without accounting for those differences.

Clean the blade and sensor.
Store the glass wet.

The LabSen 763 manual calls for washing the electrode and titanium sheath with soapy water after meat measurement. If needed, unscrew the blade sheath and clean it separately, handling the exposed glass carefully. Rinse away cleaning residues before use. This cleaning instruction is not a validated sanitation or sterilization protocol for your facility.

For persistent contamination, use the documented AI1166 cleaning-solution treatment for 30 minutes, followed by gentle soft-brush cleaning. Recondition in 3M KCl for at least one hour, rinse and recalibrate before measuring again. Inspect the blade and glass for damage; do not use a suspect probe in production sampling.

Store the sensing end in the electrode bottle with clean 3M KCl. The polymer reference is sealed and non-refillable; external KCl soaking remains necessary. Do not substitute pure water for storage. A small amount of transparent polymer may emerge after soaking; the manual permits gently wiping this excess with clean tissue. Keep connectors clean and dry.

A stable reading is the start of the record.

Use the physical controls for on-meter measurement and calibration. HOLD temporarily locks a reading on screen; write the result and its sample context in your external worksheet or record system. Screen values in photographs are illustrative, not sample results.

Use calibration solutions and settings appropriate to the parameter and fitted electrode. Temperature compensation does not make different sample temperatures, preparation methods or chemistry equivalent. Follow the model-specific meter and electrode instructions before extending the method to a new sample.

Read the result.
Make the record yourself.

PH850 is a direct-reading Value-series instrument, not a stored-results logger. The current kit specification lists data storage, storage content and output as N/A. There is no supported computer-download or automated reporting workflow for this model.

Optional automatic HOLD freezes a stable displayed reading to help with transcription. It does not retain a batch record. Keep a notebook or worksheet with sample identity, pH, measured temperature, operator and your own date and time, alongside calibration details and any unusual drift.

Procurement note: the current US kit page lists three AA batteries, while the PH850 manual lists three AAA batteries. Confirm the supplied hardware revision and battery requirements; battery inclusion is not promised here. The current limited warranty is three years for the instrument and six months for the probe from delivery, subject to exclusions including accidental damage, misuse and normal wear.