Which medical fridge should I select?

If you’re investing in a medical fridge you need to make sure your money is well spent and the model you’re buying is 100% fit for purpose.

Sounds simple doesn’t it – after all it’s just a fridge. However, there are very specific types of medical fridge for specific different uses. And experience tells us that people often get confused about which they should buy.

This guide will help you choose the Lec Medical fridge that is right for you. 

Why temperature range is important

Temperature range is the most important element of a medical fridge. 

For example, if you store sensitive items such as vaccines at a temperature that is too high or too low they will biodegrade more quickly and risk losing their efficacy. Losing any product can also prove highly costly.

Each product in the Lec Medical range has its own distinct temperature range, precisely calculated to maintain safe and stable conditions for the products being stored:

• Pharmacy Plus +2° to +8°
• Laboratory Plus +2° to +10°
• Neonatal +2° to +4°
• Ward +1° to +5° 

Pharmacy Plus

Our Pharmacy Plus range is the only appropriate choice if you are storing any medicines, veterinary medicine products, or botulinum toxins used in injectable cosmetic procedures.

This  refrigeration range is suitable for a wide range of locations including:

• Community or high street pharmacies
• Pharmacies in hospitals
• Hospital wards
• Dentists
• Care homes
• Veterinary surgeries
• Aesthetic treatment providers such as specialist clinics, beauty salons and some dental practices
• Domestic households where people receive home care and keep drugs in the home

You can find out more about the Lec Medical Pharmacy Plus range here.

Neonatal Fridges

As its names suggests, Lec Medical developed the Neonatal refrigeration range specifically for the storage of breast milk on neonatal wards. 

Neonatal fridges operate within an extremely tight temperature range of +2°C to +4°C, in line with recommendations universally accepted by global breast feeding and infant health organisations. This maximises the lifespan of the breast milk and preserves its nutritional, immunological and antioxidant qualities. 

It also features unique organisational features such as dividable slide-out drawers or shelf dividers so breast milk can be individually stored for each patient, supporting correct, safer storage and allowing easier access to milk supplies by authorised staff and parents.

Laboratory Plus 

Used to store volatile substances such as scientific and medical samples and specimens, all Laboratory Plus products are spark-free to maximise safety. 

They have no interior lights and the cooling system is contained is within the frame of the fridge, rather than being fan-assisted. ATEX accredited models, suitable for hazardous environments, are also available.

Laboratory Plus fridges are not temperature monitored so are not suitable for storing medicinal drugs.

This is the fridge to choose for locations such as:

• Drugs testing companies
• Universities
• Pharmaceutical manufacturers
• Some hospital laboratories, for example catheter laboratories

You can find out more about the Lec Medical Laboratory Plus range here.

Ward fridges

Lec Medical ward fridges are used for the storage of medically prescribed nutritional products which support patient health and recovery when they are unable to consume normal meals. These might include high calorie liquid meals and protein supplements.

Although they are used on hospital wards, these fridges are only temperature monitored between +1°  and +4° and are not suitable for storing drugs.

They should be used purely for nutritional products in locations such as:

• Hospital wards
• Rehabilitation units
• In-patient units 

You can find out more about Lec Medical Ward fridges range here.