In short: Keep refrigerated medicines in a purpose-built pharmaceutical refrigerator set to +2 °C to +8 °C, away from the walls, the cooling plate and the door, in their original packs, with the temperature checked and recorded at least twice a day. If the temperature goes out of range, quarantine the stock and ask the supplier or manufacturer before using it.
Use the right refrigerator
Domestic refrigerators cycle widely in temperature and have cold spots that can freeze vials. A purpose-built pharmaceutical or vaccine refrigerator holds a steadier temperature, has a lock, and usually has a built-in display or alarm. Keep it for medicines only — no food, drinks or samples.
Place stock where the temperature is steady
- Keep vials and pens in their original cartons, which protect them from light.
- Leave space between packs and the walls so cold air can circulate; do not overfill shelves.
- Keep products away from the cooling plate and the back wall, where freezing is most likely.
- Do not store medicines in the door, which warms every time it opens.
- Put new stock behind older stock, so the earliest expiry is used first.
Check and record the temperature
- Use a calibrated minimum–maximum thermometer or a data logger, not only the fridge’s own dial.
- Record the current, minimum and maximum temperature at least twice a day, and reset the minimum–maximum readings after each check.
- Set an alarm or a daily reminder; a temperature excursion found a day late is far harder to judge.
When the temperature goes out of range
- Move the stock to a working refrigerator or a cool box with conditioned packs, and label it “do not use” until reviewed.
- Note how high or low the temperature went and for how long.
- Contact the supplier or the manufacturer’s medical information line with those details. Many products tolerate short excursions, but only the manufacturer can confirm whether a specific batch is still usable.
- Plan for power cuts: a backup supply, or a written plan for moving stock to a cool box.
Quick answers
- What temperature should a pharmacy refrigerator be?
- Between +2 °C and +8 °C for medicines labelled “store in a refrigerator”, unless the product label says otherwise.
- Can frozen vaccines or biologics be used?
- Many cannot: freezing can damage vaccines and protein medicines permanently, even if they look normal after thawing. Quarantine them and check with the manufacturer.
This guide is general information for healthcare professionals, procurement teams and patients, not medical, legal or regulatory advice. Rules change; confirm with the relevant authority.