Robin Gregson, Sales and Marketing Director of Labcold, gives advice on choosing a pharmacy refrigerator.
Of course, they both keep things cool.
But one can be a mass-produced 'cheap and cheerful' product sold on the high street or at out-of-town retail parks, while the other is a crucial piece of medical equipment.
Domestic fridges have to meet the strict guidelines on keeping food fresh, but these are different to those needed to preserve vaccines and not as exacting.
Specialist medical refrigerators designed for pharmacy use are designed and manufactured to maintain vaccines, pharmaceuticals, samples and other critical medical products at a closely controlled, carefully monitored temperature.
While domestic fridges can be designed to meet the changing whims of fashion, those for scientific and medical uses have rather more important criteria to consider - performance, safety and reliability are key factors.
One important difference is that, in a medical refrigerator, the temperature needs to be within the specified range throughout the chamber and not just in one place.
Cold air is, of course, more dense than warm.
As a result it naturally sinks to the bottom of the refrigerator chamber, resulting in a temperature gradient.
Spatial temperature variation is an important consideration when designing a pharmacy refrigerator.
Another vital factor is how the refrigerator operates to maintain an operating temperature within tight parameters.
Most systems use electric motors to compress the refrigerant gas into a liquid which in turn is allowed to evaporate, so cooling the chamber.
This process cannot be switched off and on as rapidly as a heater, and there is also a degree of 'overshoot' or 'undershoot' inherent in the gas/liquid transition.
The result is a temperature fluctuation throughout the chamber on a regular basis.
Further complications arise if - as in many medical and pharmacy applications - the refrigerator door is opened on a regular basis, unlike most domestic uses.
Careful attention to system design, microprocessor control systems and higher specification materials can all mitigate against this fluctuation.
Of course, if anything does go wrong it can be a disaster for those whose work depends on the samples and pharmaceuticals contained within.
So the refrigerator should be specified with at least a local alarm.
They should also have a storage space which is designed for the purpose, with flexible shelving options according to the exact needs of each individual user.
Locks will also help in ensuring that only authorised personnel can access the contents.
Just like buying a domestic fridge, users should look for models which are CFC and HCFC free, and choose the most energy efficient model wherever possible.
Another danger which is often overlooked is the risk of ammonia leaks.
There is a long history of incidents involving leaks of this poisonous gas from some refrigerators used in medical and pharmacy applications where they employ ammonia as a refrigerant.
Here buyers should choose ammonia-free machines with more benign refrigerants that should ideally be inert and minimise damage to the environment.
So, having decided on the specifications required, how do you go about choosing the brand of refrigerator or freezer? Of course, it is tempting to choose a familiar 'high street brand' best known for producing domestic versions.
But there are specialist manufacturers who concentrate all their knowledge and expertise into producing models specifically designed for medical, scientific and laboratory use.
Whoever you choose, an idea is to select one from a knowledgeable supplier, with sales staff able to discuss and advise you on the best options.
The supplier should be able to advise not just on meeting current requirements, such as those issued by the vaccine manufacturers and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain's Code of Ethics and Standards, but also on forthcoming legislation or directives to provide a degree of 'future proofing'.
The supplier should also be able to keep you up to date with best practice.
Best also perhaps to choose a manufacturer that is amongst the market leaders in high-end, critical applications such as blood banks and spark-free technology.
A final point to consider is whether the refrigerators are available in the right size to suit the user - space if often very limited so an ideal range will include bench-top units and medium under-bench models as well as the larger free-standing ones.
There are even models available that can be mounted on the wall.
For over 40 years, the Labcold range has been the first choice for scientific, laboratory and medical use.
A leading chain of high street chemists ordered over 200 for their Chlamydia Testing Service while hundreds of independent pharmacies and GP/PCT surgeries use them for pharmaceutical and vaccine storage.
What's more, a growing list of PFI hospitals and specified the Labcold range based on the company's unsurpassed specialist experience and expertise.
Finally, Labcold products are listed and approved for supply against government contracts reflecting the company's position as a key supplier to NHS and private hospitals for many years.
The Labcold range is readily available ex-stock from a wide range of partner suppliers with whom Labcold works closely to provide expert support and advice for medical and scientific users.
Of course, you could still choose to buy this important piece of medical equipment from that pleasant young man doing his Saturday job in the discount electrical warehouse
