Different Storage Types for Varying Temperature and Humidity Requirements

Pharmaceutical cold storage can be classified into five main types based on temperature ranges and intended uses:

• Ambient Storage (15°C–30°C)

• Refrigerated Storage (2°C–8°C)

• Frozen Storage (≤ –20°C)

• Ultra-Low Temperature Storage (–30°C to –80°C)

• Cryogenic Storage (–196°C)

Each type of cold storage is designed to provide a specialized environment tailored to the sensitivity of different pharmaceutical products, ensuring drug activity, extending shelf life, and maintaining safety. Below, we detail the temperature control parameters, storage targets, and operational processes for each category.

1. Cold Storage Types and Corresponding Pharmaceutical Products

1. Ambient Storage (15°C–30°C)
Ambient storage is used for pharmaceutical products that are less sensitive to temperature fluctuations, such as oral solid formulations, tablets, capsules, and general medical supplies (e.g., syringes and infusion sets).
While WHO defines this range as "ambient temperature," in practice, strict control between 15°C and 30°C is required to prevent efficacy degradation or packaging damage due to excessive heat or humidity.

2. Refrigerated Storage (2°C–8°C)
Maintained at 2°C to 8°C, refrigerated storage is the standard environment for vaccines (e.g., influenza, hepatitis B, HPV), monoclonal antibodies, insulin, and plasma-derived products.
According to the U.S. CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit, this temperature range effectively suppresses the degradation of active ingredients and inhibits microbial growth.

3. Frozen Storage (≤ –20°C)
Frozen storage maintains temperatures at –20°C or lower, suitable for certain vaccines (such as some measles vaccines), PCR enzymes, and biochemical reagents that require freezing for stability.
WHO model guidelines recommend that frozen storage should have excellent insulation and automatic defrosting capabilities to prevent frost buildup, which could impair cooling efficiency.

4. Ultra-Low Temperature Storage (–30°C to –80°C)
Ultra-low temperature storage, ranging from –30°C to –80°C, is specifically designed for mRNA vaccines (e.g., Pfizer's vaccine requiring –80°C), cell suspensions, recombinant proteins, and high-value biological samples.
Thermo King's SuperFreezer series containers demonstrate stable control within this range and support both mobile and stationary applications, ensuring vaccine safety throughout various transportation stages.

5. Cryogenic Storage (–196°C)
Cryogenic storage utilizes liquid nitrogen environments at –196°C to store stem cells, embryos, sperm, and tissue slices for long-term preservation.
According to NIST's liquid nitrogen tank operating guidelines, it is critical to regularly monitor liquid nitrogen levels and temperatures, and to use specialized insulated containers and protective equipment to avoid temperature fluctuations and leakage risks.