Pharmacy Storage

Frequently Asked Questions

What can be stored in a pharmacy fridge?

Unlike your fridge at home which will be filled with goodies and cool drinks, pharmacy fridges are generally filled with a selection of pharmaceuticals that require cold storage.

These will vary widely depending on the patients each pharmacy looks after, but can generally include:

• Eye and ear drops

• Reconstituted antibiotics

• Specific tablets, such as those intended for cancer or HIV/AIDS patients

• Injectables, including insulins and immune system medications as well as vaccines

• Therapeutic liquids, including Nebuliser solutions, anti-rejection medications, and wound care medicines

Failure to keep these medicines or therapeutic solutions within the correct temperature range can stop the active ingredients from working and mean the medicine may require to have the shelf life shortened or even disposed of and re-stocked – wasting time and money.

If you order from QED Scientific, all pharmacy fridges come with CE Certification and a 5-year UK warranty, so you can be sure each vaccine or medication can give patients the best quality of care.

For more information about how to keep your medications in the best condition, contact us today here at QED Scientific. You can fill in our online contact form or give us a call on 01663 735 494.

What temperature should a pharmacy fridge be set at?

You may be surprised to know that a pharmacy fridge should be set at a similar range to your domestic fridge at home.

To keep food fresh for as long as possible and to inhibit bacteria growth, the Food Standards Agency advises that domestic fridges should be set between +2 to +5°C.

Likewise, pharmacy fridges should be set at about +5°C, with an ideal range of +2°C to +8°C, which is easy to set with digital temperature controls.

Pharmacy fridges from QED Scientific come with a range of extras that give pharmacy staff the reassurance they need, including:

• Temperature factory set at +5°C, with a minimum of +2°C and a maximum of +8°C

• Internal fans to ensure optimum temperature control

• Audible and visual alarms with remote alarm connections

• An internal memory which stores the internal maximum and minimum temperatures

• Optional glazed door models for stock-taking without needing to open the doors – thereby reducing internal temperature excursions

For personalised recommendations for suitable pharmacy fridges or other pharmacy equipment, don't hesitate to contact our friendly, knowledgeable team. You can call or email us and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. 

Are CRT cabinets needed?

CRT or Controlled Room Temperature storage cabinets ensure the safe storage of medical or therapeutic treatments – many often require storage below +25°C to keep them safe and effective.

Despite the jokes about the UK being cold and wet, room temperatures across the country can often fluctuate to normal ambient temperatures, making them much warmer than the ideal +25°C.

This can be worsened by the weather, building insulation levels, poor air circulation, or even south-facing windows.

The way to get around this is usually either to install costly and disruptive Air Conditioning systems or simply purchase a CRT storage cabinet!

A simple, effective, and economical solution for keeping your medicines, ointments, and lotions stable and guaranteeing their advertised shelf-life.

If you are new to CRT cabinets or need to purchase a replacement model, you can explore our range of controlled room temperature cabinets or talk with the QED team today - you can phone us or fill in our online contact form with your specifications and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can with our personalised recommendations.