Laboratory freezers in the health sector are mainly used to store reagents, biological samples, and medicines. As we’ll see in this guide, they have completely different characteristics to domestic freezers. Their temperature ranges vary according to the type of samples or the sector they are intended for. They are available with different technologies, features, and accessories, depending on the model and brand.
Depending on their applications, we can distinguish three main types of freezers for the health sector: laboratory freezers, blood bank freezers, and pharmacy freezers. Maintaining constant temperatures is crucial, as the slightest variation can compromise the preservation and properties of the samples. In addition, as biological and medical materials often have to be stored for weeks or even years at extremely low temperatures (down to -86°C), the freezer must provide optimum safety and reliability to ensure their preservation. The slightest malfunction can lead to the loss of precious samples or expensive reagents.
PHC laboratory freezer
These are used to store samples and/or reagents, especially in the biotechnology sector. These freezers make it possible to safely and reliably store ultra-sensitive substances, such as serums or antibodies, and even explosive substances.
These are used to store and preserve blood and blood derivatives in blood banks.
These are specifically designed to store and preserve medicines and vaccines.
Main applications of medical freezers
You can choose between different freezer configurations according to the space available for your installation. There are upright, chest, and built-in freezers. The types of doors vary depending on the model. You can also opt for a combined fridge and freezer.
Upright freezers take up little space on the floor. However, they consume more energy than equivalent chest models. Upright freezers are practical when you need regular access to stored samples.
These take up more space than upright freezers but are more economical as they consume less energy. When space is not an issue, it is preferable to opt for this type of freezer.
These can be installed under a workbench, for example in a laboratory. They are very practical but generally offer less storage capacity.
These freezers have between one and four doors. There are models with glass doors and others with solid doors.
These models have at least two independent compartments: one that functions as a freezer (with temperatures below 0°C) and the other as a refrigerator (with temperatures above 0°C).
Liebherr chest freezer
Upright freezer from B Medical Systems
One of the main features to bear in mind when buying a freezer is its temperature range. Your choice will depend on the type of products you need to store and for how long. The temperature ranges vary depending on the type of freezer:
To ensure that your products are kept in ideal refrigeration conditions, you can opt for freezers with technologies that make it easier to monitor the temperature and you should always take into account the climate class of the appliance.
High/low temperature alarm
Certain freezer models activate an audible or visual alarm when they detect a temperature outside the programmed range, immediately alerting users to any anomalies.
RFID technology
Freezers with RFID technology offer the possibility of continuously monitoring the temperature at which samples are stored, which is essential for controlling the cold chain. What’s more, it’s an intelligent solution that generally only allows authorized personnel to open the freezer via RFID access control and always records the identity of the person who accessed it, the date and time of access, what was put in or taken out of the freezer, and where.
Climate class
It is also essential to pay attention to the climate class of the freezer. This refers to the ambient temperature range in which the equipment must be used in order for it to function correctly and meet the expected conservation conditions. The climate class is indicated by one or more letters on the appliance’s plate or label, along with other characteristics. There are eight climatic classes:
For a suitable storage temperature:
Manufacturers are sparing no effort to develop ever more innovative solutions for the cold chain, particularly in the area of tracking and preserving samples. The equipment must be able to guarantee the maintenance of the cold chain, which requires continuous temperature control monitoring and product traceability.
Environmental issues are also taken into account, and today there are solar-powered freezers, which are not dependent on access to the electricity grid. Their use is particularly important in areas affected by natural disasters or in regions where power cuts are frequent, as the use of these freezers can guarantee the continuity of the cold chain.
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