Care and Use of

Refrigerators and Freezers

Introduction

• Refrigerators and freezers are essential equipment in medical

laboratories, as they are used to store a wide variety of materials,
including specimens, reagents, and vaccines. It is important to
properly care for and use these appliances in order to ensure the safety
and integrity of the materials stored within them.
Types of Refrigerators and Freezers
• There are two main types of refrigerators and freezers used in medical
laboratories:
• Standard refrigerators: These refrigerators operate at temperatures
between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius (36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit). They
are used to store a variety of materials, such as blood specimens, urine
specimens, and reagents.
• Ultra-low temperature freezers: These freezers operate at
temperatures below -70 degrees Celsius (-94 degrees
Fahrenheit). They are used to store materials that require very cold
temperatures, such as vaccines and enzymes.
 Care and Maintenance
• It is important to regularly clean and maintain your refrigerators and
freezers. This will help to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold, which
can contaminate your samples and reagents.
• Cleaning:
• Clean the interior of your refrigerator or freezer regularly with a mild soap
and water solution.
• Be sure to wipe down all surfaces, including the shelves, drawers, and
gaskets.
• Rinse the interior thoroughly with clean water and dry it with a clean cloth.
• You may also want to use a disinfectant solution to clean the interior of
your refrigerator or freezer. However, be sure to choose a disinfectant that
is safe for use on food and medical supplies.
Maintenance:

• Defrost your refrigerator or freezer regularly. This is especially

important for freezers, as frost can build up and restrict airflow.
• Check the door gaskets regularly to make sure that they are sealing
properly. If the gaskets are damaged or worn, they should be replaced.
• Have your refrigerator or freezer serviced by a qualified technician at
least once a year.
Use
• When using your refrigerator or freezer, it is important to follow these
guidelines:
• Label all samples and reagents clearly. This will help to prevent accidental
contamination or misuse.
• Store materials in appropriate containers. For example, blood specimens
should be stored in sealed tubes or bags.
• Do not overload the refrigerator or freezer. This can restrict airflow and lead
to uneven temperatures.
• Minimize the amount of time that the refrigerator or freezer door is
open. This will help to maintain consistent temperatures inside the
appliance.
Specific Considerations
• Store specimens and reagents in separate areas. This will help to
prevent cross-contamination.
• Use dedicated refrigerators and freezers for storing vaccines. This will
help to ensure that vaccines are kept at the proper temperature.
• Keep a temperature log for your refrigerators and freezers. This will
help you to monitor the temperatures and identify any problems early
on.
Opening of ampoules containing
lyophilized infectious materials
Lyophilized infectious materials
Lyophilized infectious materials are materials that have been dried to a
powder form. They are often stored in ampoules, which are small glass
vials.
When opening an ampoule containing lyophilized infectious materials,
it is important to take precautions to prevent the release of the material
into the environment.
To open an ampoule containing lyophilized
infectious materials:
1.Place the ampoule in a biological safety cabinet (BSC).
2.Use a sterile ampoule opener to score the neck of the ampoule.
3.Break the neck of the ampoule and carefully transfer the contents to a
sterile container.
4.Decontaminate the ampoule opener and the outside of the ampoule
with a disinfectant.
5.Dispose of the ampoule and the used disinfectant in a proper waste
container.
• Storage of ampoules containing infectious materials
• Ampoules containing infectious materials should be stored in a secure
and well-ventilated area. They should be kept away from direct
sunlight and heat sources. The storage area should be labeled with a
biohazard warning sign.
• Precautions with materials that may contain prions
• Prions are misfolded proteins that can cause neurodegenerative
diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). There is no cure for
CJD, and it is fatal.
• When handling materials that may contain prions, it is important to
take precautions to prevent exposure to the material. These precautions
include:
• Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as
gloves, goggles, and a laboratory coat.
• Working in a BSC.
• Decontaminating all work surfaces and equipment with a disinfectant
that is effective against prions.
• Disposing of all waste materials in a proper waste container.
• Here are some additional precautions that should be taken when
handling materials that may contain prions:
• Avoid using needles and other sharp objects.
• Avoid creating aerosols.
• Do not eat, drink, or smoke in the work area.
• Wash hands thoroughly after handling materials that may contain
prions.
If you are unsure whether or not a material contains prions, it is best to
err on the side of caution and take the necessary precautions.
There are a number of precautions that can be taken to avoid

• Ingestion
• Do not eat, drink, or smoke in the laboratory.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating, drinking,
smoking, or using the restroom.
• Do not put your hands in your mouth or eyes.
• Avoid pipetting by mouth. Use a mechanical pipetting device instead.
• Be careful when handling sharp objects, such as needles and syringes.
• If you spill infectious material on your hands, wash them immediately
with soap and water.
Skin and eyes
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling
infectious materials. This may include gloves, goggles, a mask, and a
laboratory coat.
• Avoid splashing infectious material on your skin or eyes. If you do splash
infectious material on your skin or eyes, immediately rinse the affected area
with water for at least 15 minutes.
• If you are wearing gloves, be careful not to touch your face or other parts of
your body with the contaminated gloves.
• Remove your gloves carefully and dispose of them in a proper waste
container.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after removing your gloves.