Thermal Analysis of a Small Pharmaceutical Refrigerator for Vaccine Storage

Published

November 23, 2012

Author(s)

Michal J. Chojnacky

Abstract

Each year, billions of dollars of vaccines are stored in refrigerators at the facilities of a variety of medical providers. Many vaccines must be maintained in the range 2 °C to 8 °C to retain product potency. As an extension to our study of household and pharmaceutical-grade refrigerator models used for this purpose [1,2], we have evaluated the performance of a small, under-the-counter pharmaceutical refrigerator model for vaccine storage use. This unit [capacity = 0.138 m3 (4.9 cu ft)] proved fully adequate at maintaining vial temperatures within the desired 2 °C to 8 °C range, independent of how the refrigerator was loaded and under variable use and environmental conditions.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 7900

Report Number

7900

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

DOI Link

Keywords

Cold Chain, Vaccine Storage Refrigerator, Temperature Monitoring, Digital Data Logger, Vaccine Storage and Handling, Vaccines for Children, Centers for Disease Control

Citation

Chojnacky, M. (2012), Thermal Analysis of a Small Pharmaceutical Refrigerator for Vaccine Storage, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7900 (Accessed October 15, 2025)