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Choosing the Right Medical Refrigerator: Types and Uses
It is extremely important that healthcare practitioners ensure that medicinal products are safe, effective, and well-preserved. Medication, vaccinations, blood products, and other medical supplies must be stored properly to ensure their effectiveness and avoid contamination. Here's when medical and vaccination refrigerators come in handy. These specialized cold storage solutions are intended to keep medicinal products at the proper temperature and under optimal conditions to maintain their effectiveness.
However, with a wide variety of types and models of medical refrigerators on the market, selecting the right one can be challenging. To help you make an informed decision, we provide the many types of medical refrigerators and their uses below.
The Different Types of Medical Refrigerators
Here are some types of medical refrigerators available for safe and effective vaccine distribution and storage:
Pharmacy refrigerators are designed to store medications and vaccines safely. They typically have a temperature range of 2°C to 8°C (or 36° to 46° Fahrenheit), ideal for storing vaccines and medications requiring refrigeration.
Blood bank refrigerators are utilized to store blood supplies properly. They are meant to maintain a temperature range of +2°C to +6°C, which is required to preserve the quality of blood products.
Ultra-low temperature freezers are intended to keep products at extremely low temperatures ranging from -40°C & -86°C to -150°C. These freezers are widely used to keep samples such as DNA and blood and particular types of vaccinations such as COVID-19.
Laboratory refrigerators, such as cultures, reagents, and chemicals, keep samples at precise temperatures. Depending on the application, the temperature generally ranges from 2°C to 8°C or 5°C to 15°C.
Combination units are intended to store many products in a single container. They usually contain separate sections for frozen and refrigerated items.
Vaccine refrigerators are intended to keep medicines from 2°C to 8°C. They usually have digital temperature displays, alerts, and a data logger.
Portable vaccine refrigerators are intended for usage in distant areas such as field clinics and disaster relief areas. They are lightweight, sturdy, and have a rechargeable battery, making them portable.
Medical ice makers are specialized ice machines developed in hospitals, labs, and other medical environments. These ice producers are intended to create safe ice for medical uses such as chilling organs for transplantation or in-patient food and beverage service.
These are some of the most common medical refrigerators used to store vaccinations, medicines, and other temperature-sensitive medical supplies. Healthcare providers may guarantee that their patients receive the best possible treatment by choosing the right type of refrigerator and taking adequate care of it.
Things to Consider When Purchasing a Medical Refrigerator
When selecting a medical refrigerator, it is essential to consider several factors, including:
- Temperature range
Various medications and vaccinations must be stored at different temperatures to be effective. Choose a medical refrigerator with a temperature range suitable for the items you intend to store in it.
- Storage capacity
Assess how much storage space you require for medications or vaccinations, and then select a refrigerator with sufficient capacity.
- Size and placement
Decide where you intend to put the refrigerator and select a size that will fit the available space. While choosing a location, consider things like door swing and accessibility.
- Energy efficiency
Medical refrigerators may be energy-intensive, so seek Energy Star-certified models or have other energy-efficient refrigeration features to help save running expenses.
- Temperature monitoring and alarms
Opt for a type with temperature alarms that will notify you if the temperature falls outside the intended range.
- Security features
Regardless of the contents inside, security systems such as locks or alarms may be required to prevent illegal entry.
- Noise level
Certain medical refrigerators are loud, which may be an issue in some environments, such as hospitals or pharmacies. While making your choice, consider the noise level of the unit.
- Maintenance and support
Choose a refrigerator from a respected manufacturer that provides maintenance and assistance. Maintaining your medical refrigerator is crucial to ensure its longevity and efficacy.
By carefully evaluating factors such as those listed above, you can choose a medical refrigerator that will meet the specific needs of your office or facility while also assuring the safety and effectiveness of your pharmaceuticals and immunizations. Proper storage and handling can also help reduce waste and save money on replacing defective medications and other products.
Maintenance and Care Tips for Medical Refrigerators
Appropriate refrigerator maintenance and care are critical to ensuring they perform well and keep their contents safe. The following are some recommendations for caring for your medical refrigerator:
- Cleaning and Disinfecting
Clean and disinfect the inside and outside of the medical refrigerator regularly using a light detergent and warm water.
- Temperature Monitoring
At least twice a day, use a calibrated thermometer to check the temperature of the medical refrigerator and record the data.
- Calibration and Maintenance
Follow the manufacturer's recommended maintenance plan and get any faults checked out by a competent expert like 360 Medical. Additionally, make sure the thermometer is calibrated regularly.
Therefore, choosing the right medical refrigerator is critical for the safety and efficacy of healthcare services. Knowing your preferences or needs and speaking with a trusted source of durable and high-quality medical freezers in Canada, like us here at 360 Medical, helps ensure that your unique needs are met with the greatest safety and reliability standards. Besides sales, we provide medical refrigerator repair, installation, preventive maintenance, and freezer and refrigerator rentals. Contact us today at 1-800-209-2082 to learn more about our products and services or to request a quote.
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