Section: UTMB On-line Documentation Subject: Healthcare Epidemiology Policies and Procedures Topic: Care of Refrigerators and Freezers

1.4-Policy 2008 - Revised 1979 - Author

1.4 Care of Refrigerators and Freezers

Purpose	To assure that refrigerators and freezers are clean, contents properly stored, and the temperature monitored.
Audience	All employees of UTMB hospitals and clinics, contract works, volunteers, and students
Cleaning	All refrigerators/freezers should be cleaned regularly and as necessary for spills.
Contents	• Patient food refrigerators should contain only food for patients that has been properly wrapped. Food items designated for a specific patient should be labeled with that patient’s name and an expiration date should be on the container (48 hours after preparation). • Food for employees shall not be stored in the patient food refrigerator. • Medicine or drug refrigerators should be kept solely for the purpose of storing medications that require refrigeration according to manufacturer’s instructions. • Refrigerators for storage of blood should contain only blood and blood products. • Specimen refrigerators should contain only specimens which are properly secured and appropriately labeled (i.e., with the patient’s name, unit number, and date).
Temperature	• An accurately calibrated thermometer should be kept in each refrigerator and freezer at all times. • The temperature of any refrigerator freezer that contains drugs, patient food, blood or specimens should be checked, and logged weekly to ensure proper temperature control. The temperature log should be saved for three (3) months. If temperatures register above or below the appropriate range, Physical Plant must be notified immediately. Physical Plant will inform the user department when the refrigerator/freezer is safe for use. • The Texas Department of Health requires any refrigerator that contains TDH immunization to have the temperature checked twice a day. • The temperature of patient food refrigerators must be kept at or below 320 - 400F. • The temperatures at which drugs are usually refrigerated should be maintained thermostatically between 36oF – 46oF (2o and 80C) and freezers at temperatures between -100C and -200C (-40F and 140F). • Blood is to be kept between 10 and 60C, and antisera between 20-80C. • Pathology specimens must be stored at a temperature between 20 and 80.
References	1. Palmer, M.B., Infection Control; A Policy and Procedure Manual. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co., 1984: 193-194. 2. Association for Practitioners in Infection Control: The APIC Curriculum for Infection Control Practice, Volume II. Dubuque, Association for Practitioners in Infection Control, 1983. 3. United States Pharmacopeia. 21st Revision, 1985: 8. 4. Rules Governing the Sanitation of Hospitals, Nursing and Rest Homes, Sanitarians, Sanitoriums, and Educational and Other Institutions, Section 1300. North Carolina Department of Human Resources, Division of Health Services, Environmental Health Section, 1986, 12. 5. Rules on Food Service Sanitation, Texas Department of Health, Division of Food and Drugs, Austin, Texas 1977.