Vaccines are highly sensitive biological product. They maintain their biological potency only if they are kept at recommended temperatures with very little room for variance. Therefore, vaccine refrigerators are extremely important in a lab where the storage temperature requirements need to be maintained at all times.
There are two major categories that vaccine refrigerators fall into: manual and automatic defrost. Manual defrost models are considered the safer choice in general applications. Auto-defrost refrigerators use a heater to thaw the coils of the compressor that results in a temperature spike. This spike increases the surrounding temperature inside the refrigerator and can consequently destroy the vaccines , making them inefficient to use. Typically, a stand-by refrigerator should be used to store the vaccines during the auto defrost process .
Vaccine refrigerators have very dependable and accurate temperature control systems. They are specially designed, with easy to read temperature display panels mounted in front. Some are equipped with automatic logging of temperature readings at periodic intervals that meet regulatory standards. Lab personnel will just have to set the desired temperature using microprocessor based temperature controls.
Built-in alarm systems are yet another important feature. The alarms can be visual or audible. They also have an additional feature of remote alarm contacts. Alarms can be designed to alert lab personnel when the temperature goes out of the set limit. There are a wide range of storage sizes of vaccine refrigerators. From 25 to 86 cubic feet, is the typical range. Large medical establishments, research and development divisions of pharmaceutical companies, biological labs, etc can choose a model that suits their specific storage requirements.
Solid door refrigerators are the popular choice. The doors are heavy duty and have pull handles and pivot hinges. They have key lock doors and have magnetic gaskets installed. They come with digital LED microprocessor control.
Another model of these vaccine refrigerators is available with glass doors in front and solid doors at the back. Also known as a pass through refrigerator they are easily accessible from either side. The double pane glass doors have heater wires placed right in front. These avoid condensation on the surface of the glass doors. Surface condensation reduces the visibility when lab personnel conduct routine checks on the stored vaccines through the glass doors without opening them. The doors installed behind the refrigerator are solid doors. They are lined with foam.
Vaccine refrigerators have a top mounted refrigeration system that allows for maximum storage availability. They are extremely durable, maintain precise temperature levels, and are generally easy to operate. These are also relatively easier to clean and maintain.
A lab refrigerator designed for vaccine storage besides providing a regulated storage environment, also helps lab personnel remain productive and efficient while maintaining compliance to vaccine storage protocols.