Medical Refrigerators
Pharmacies, medical practices, hospitals, and labs have vastly different refrigeration requirements than an average commercial kitchen. To meet those needs, they must invest in medical refrigerators and freezers designed to hold important items at extremely precise temperatures.
Medical refrigerators come with a range of unique features you're unlikely to find on a standard commercial fridge. For example, certain medications and vaccines must be stored at precise, consistent temperatures as any significant fluctuation of heat or cold can ruin them. To maintain tight control over the internal temperature, many medication refrigerators are designed with microprocessor controls, internal fans, glycol-encased temperature probes, and/or digital thermostats. Models with built-in alarms can audibly alert users if the unit's door is left open, warning them to close the door before the interior heats up. Access ports further enable staff to run power cords and probe leads into the fridge, so they can collect and monitor temperature data without breaking the door's seal.
Locking doors help eliminate temperature changes by preventing unauthorized users from opening the medical fridge, keeping its contents safe from tampering, theft, or vandalism. Models with a record-keeping functionality offer users an easy way to track and record temperature changes over time and often feature a USB port for easy data transfer. Medical freezers and dual-section models can keep some or all contents chilled below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal preservation of frozen samples. Some models have self-defrosting systems to prevent chunks of ice from forming inside the fridge over time.
Many medication fridges have built-in LED lighting to promote high visibility within the cabinet; some have a pass-thru design that lets staff load the fridge from one side while coworkers pull product from the other, ensuring first in, first out (FIFO) rotation of medicines and samples. For on-the-go vaccine preservation, mobile medical refrigerators are available, and for those simply needing to save space or money, a countertop medical-grade refrigerator may be the perfect fit. For high-volume applications, many full-size floor models are also available.