“WHY can’t we just buy a domestic
refrigerator?”
Veterinary professionals often ask us
this question,
and as the
law stands,
there is
nothing to
say that you
must store
your
pharmaceutical products in specialist
refrigeration equipment, so the question
needs a comprehensive explanation.
In line with the latest changes in
procedure and best practice, the features
of pharmacy refrigerators are vastly
different to those of domestic
refrigerators and need to ensure safety
and reliability at all times.
Although domestic refrigerators are
much cheaper and are ideal to store
household goods and food items, they
are not designed to hold an even
temperature throughout the interior, and
in different areas the temperature can
fall to as low as 0oC or rise to as high as
+10oC.
These fluctuations in temperature can have a devastating effect on stored
vaccines and pharmaceuticals, with
vaccines becoming deactivated as they freeze or at higher temperatures, their
potency being reduced.
With pharmacy refrigerators, the
temperature is pre-set to hold +5oC (+
or – 3oC), and an interior fan that
circulates the air constantly so that an
even temperature is held throughout the
interior at all times. In addition, this
circulation of cold air allows for the
temperature range to recover quickly
after door openings.
Another difficulty for the Veterinary
professional is ascertaining how best to
read the temperature and record it.
Pharmacy refrigerators should have
an easily readable digital temperature
display on the outside, which will also
provide a maximum/minimum temperature memory system and
incorporate an audio/visual alarm
system should the temperature range fall
or rise above the set levels, for example
if there is an interruption of power to
the appliance.
Theft and misuse of stored
pharmaceuticals is an important issue,
so look for a door lock to prevent
unauthorised access. Also look out for
a good warranty – most domestic
models will only carry a one-year
guarantee at most.
Today’s ranges of pharmacy refrigerators also take into account the
need for different sizes of cabinets for
the vastly different requirements of
veterinary practices. A visit to
www.vetfridge.co.uk will show an
example of what is available.
