Lab freezers are important for many reasons including research as well as vaccines. Keeping vaccines at a specific temperature is important to ensure that they are viable and work as planned. Since vaccines prevent more than 2 million deaths each year, doctors want to make sure they are held at the right temperature to do their job. According to the CDC these temperatures should be about 40 degrees for refrigerated vaccines and no more than five degrees for frozen vaccines. Maintaining the devices which maintain the temperature for these things and other medical supplies is vital in order to ensure safety and quality. Follow these routine maintenance tips to ensure your lab freezer continues to work as it should.
Air Flow
The air flow system on your lab freezer and lab refrigerator should be clear and able to access air. Avoid pilling things on top of them if the refrigeration system is located there. If the system is located on the bottom then ensure that it is not too close to cabinets or walls, and keep boxes away to allow air access.
Clean
Just as the air access on your medical freezer or medical refrigerator should be kept free of debris, it should be clean as well. Dirt can cause fluctuations in temperature and your laboratory freezer may not maintain the temperature needed for the contents inside. Loosen dirt with a brush or rag and vacuum large clumps of dust to ensure the area is as clean as possible.
Filters
Don’t neglect the filters if you want your lab freezer to maintain a desired temperature. Regularly cleaning your filters not only maintains the temperature better, but it allows your lab freezer to do so with minimal work. Determining how often the filters need to be changed will be trial and error, until you realize about how long it takes for them to become dirty. Remember that crowded frequently used areas will result in the filter needing to be changed more regularly than in a quieter less used area.
Defrost
Opening and closing the door throughout the day causes warm air to get into your lab freezer. When the door is closed the warm air is then trapped. Condensation then occurs on the walls of the lab freezer. It is important to defrost when this buildup becomes large enough to see. Check your owner’s manual to see if your unit has an automatic defrost. If you must manually defrost it read the owners manual and follow all directions. Be sure to note where the water will come out while it’s defrosting. Some units make a puddle in the front, but others may puddle in the back. Knowing where the water will go can help you better plan for it.
Of course nothing is designed to work forever, and even with regular maintenance problems will still arise. No matter how much maintenance you provide it is still important to regularly monitor temperature and ensure that it is between acceptable ranges. Regular maintenance along with regular temperature checks can extend the life of your laboratory refrigeration equipment and protect the contents within them.
