Know What Differentiates Medical and Domestic Refrigerators
                     Know What Differentiates Medical and 
Domestic Refrigerators 
 
Medical and domestic refrigerators are different in many aspects. Before purchasing a 
refrigerator for domestic or medical use, know the difference. 
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Did you know that there are stark differences between domestic and medical refrigerators? If 
no, then this article is right for you, and if yes, then this article will help you further solidify your 
understanding, so read on, regardless of knowing it or not. 
 
 
 
Both types of refrigerators differ from each other in the following respects: 
 
Storage Items 
Domestic refrigerators are meant for storing items, such as fruits, vegetables, beverages, pork, 
fish, etc. But medical refrigerators are meant for storing medicines, reagents, vaccines, blood, 
biological samples, etc. 
 
Temperature Range 
Domestic refrigerators can provide a temperature range of 0 to 10 degrees C. These 
refrigerators often generate temperature fluctuations and bear the possibility of frost 
accumulation in the cabinet.   
 
If you store stuff, such as reagents and vaccines in a domestic refrigerator, the temperature 
fluctuations will make them lose their potency and become unfit for use.  
 
One the other hand, medical refrigerators can maintain a temperature range of 2 to 8 degrees 
C. The temperature fluctuation is very minimal, which varies within 3 degrees C. 
 
For a blood bank refrigerator is a must as it has to keep blood at 4 degrees C, without 
temperature fluctuations.  
 
Sensor Types 
Domestic refrigerators generally come with only one temperature sensor. The temperature 
changes significantly during the starting and stopping of the compressor.  
 
But medical refrigerators usually have 2 to 3 temperature sensors. As such, such refrigerators 
can maintain an accurate temperature.   
 
After you open and close the door frequently, the control system can bring the temperature to 
the earlier levels.  
 
Compressor Types 
Compressors in both refrigerator types are different. The compressors in the domestic 
refrigerators can lead to sudden temperature drops to fluctuate the temperature significantly. 
If temperature-sensitive medical items are stored in such a refrigerator, they might get 
damaged.  
 
But compressors used in medical refrigerators are robust. They reduce temperature 
fluctuations. 
 
Cooling Methods 
The cooling methods in both the refrigerator types are different. Usually, domestic refrigerators 
come with direct cooling auxiliary fans to minimize electricity consumption.  
 
The evaporator remains close to the inner wall, where the temperature is lower. When you 
place medicines close to the inner wall, frost is likely to build-up on the items.  
 
There is a layout of finned evaporators in medical refrigerators, with a fan system to keep 
uniform air temperature inside the unit.  
 
Usually, the fin-type air cooling structure, which has a sophisticated design to maintain 
temperature uniformity and low-temperature fluctuation, is used in medical refrigerators.  
 
A specially designed back air duct inside isolates the cold source to maintain a uniform and 
constant temperature within the unit. Such a refrigerator ensures the safety of biological 
products such as reagents, vaccines or samples. 
 
Alarm Functions 
Domestic refrigerators do not have any alarm system. But some high-end variants do have an 
over-temperature alarm function. 
 
Medical refrigerators come with an alarm function. In fact, it is a must for such refrigerators., 
which come with alarm systems, such as high and low-temperature alarms, thermostat failure 
alarms, power failure alarms, door opening and closing alarms, and high ambient temperature 
alarms.  
 
Additionally, the refrigerators come with a condenser congestion alarm, sensor failure alarm, 
low battery alarm, and abnormal voltage alarm.  
 
Thermostat Types 
In domestic refrigerators, there are adjustable mechanical thermostats with a range of 1 to 7 
digits. Some of the high-end variants come with LED digital thermostats to display the inside 
temperature. 
 
Medical refrigerators come with an electronic temperature controller with LED digital display or 
liquid crystal display. It displays the real-time inside temperature. 
 
Temperature Accuracy 
Medical refrigerators can maintain temperature more accurately than domestic refrigerators. 
With ordinary mechanical thermostats, domestic refrigerators fail to maintain temperature 
accuracy. However, the high-end variants come with digital display thermostats to maintain a 
temperature accuracy of 1 degree C. 
 
Medical refrigerators can maintain a temperature accuracy of 0.1 degrees C.with an electronic 
thermostat. 
 
Insulation Layer Thickness 
Usually, the thickness of the insulation layer of domestic refrigerators is 20-45mm of 
polyurethane foam. In medical refrigerators, the insulation layer's thickness is usually 40-50mm 
of high-density polyurethane foam. And for low-temperature freezers, the insulation thickness 
can reach 120-160mm. With thicker insulation, medical refrigerators can provide better 
insulation performance. 
 
Internal and External Materials 
A domestic refrigerator's cabinet's external material is made of a steel plate with an organic 
coating. It is also called a colour coated steel plate. It is also made of a metal plate with a 
surface covered with PVC or PET film. The inner liner material is usually made of Acrylonitrile-
Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) copolymer of polystyrene (PS) plastic. 
 
In medical refrigerators, cold-rolled sprayed steel plates are generally used to make the outside 
of the cabinet. And the inside is made up of cold-rolled sprayed steel plates, electro-galvanized 
steel plates or 304 stainless steel, which has better corrosion and rust resistance.