Case Study: The Temperature Variability of Refrigerators Storing Animal Health Products12

Data loggers were used to record temperatures at 10-min intervals for 48 h in 191 refrigerators of producers (75.9%), retail stores (18.3%), and veterinary clinics (5.8%). Refrigerator types included freezer-on-top (45.5%), side-by-sides (20.4%), and mini-refrigerators (18.3%). The refrigerator ages were ≤ 5 yr (22.0%), 6 to 10 yr (35.1%), 11 to 15 yr (22.5%), and >15 yr (20.4%). Refrigerator locations included miscellaneous places (54.4%), kitchens (20.9%), barns (14.1%), mud rooms (5.2%), and tack rooms (4.2%). Of the 1,800 animal health products in refrigerators of producers, 11.8% were expired and 29.3% were opened. The overall temperature was 3.4 ± 3.82°C (mean ± SD). There were no differences (P > 0.10) in average temperatures across refrigerator type and age. Refrigerators located in barns (2.0 ± 0.73°C; mean ± SE) were colder (P < 0.01) than those located in mud rooms (5.4 ± 1.14°C) and kitchens (4.9 ±0.65°C). Fifty-one refrigerators (26.7%) recorded temperatures between 2 and 7°C more than 95% of the time and 23.6% recorded temperatures between 2 and 7°C <5% of the time. There were no differences (P > 0.10) in location, type, or age in the number of recorded temperatures inside the acceptable range. In conclusion, only 26.7% of the refrigerators kept the temperature within the acceptable range. No refrigerator type, location, or age was superior. Refrigerators storing animal health products should be carefully monitored, and expired and opened products should be disposed of properly.