Thermo Fisher Scientific earns NSF/ANSI 456 vaccine storage certification for its high-performance refrigerators and freezers

High-performance pharmacy refrigerators and freezers from Thermo Fisher Scientific, already certified for lab- and clinical-grade storage, are now among the first to be certified to the NSF International/American National Standards Institute (NSF/ANSI) 456 Vaccine Storage Standard. The certification provides further validation to customers of reliable thermal performance across all potential storage locations and under varying loads and uses.

All Thermo Scientific TSX Series refrigerators and freezers and TSG Series undercounter refrigerators, now deployed globally at clinics, pharmacies and vaccine sites to support the massive roll-out of temperature-sensitive COVID-19 vaccines, meet the strict NSF/ANSI requirements to maintain 5°C +/- 3°C. Thermal performance also remain stable with routine door openings.

"A vaccine is only as good as the refrigerator or freezer used to store it, as many require highly specific temperatures to remain effective," said Chris Champlin, vice president and general manager of laboratory equipment, Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Our entire line is designed for clinical- and laboratory-grade storage, and this level of performance and assurance is now expected across healthcare as the world relies heavily on the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines."

The Thermo Fisher line of certified refrigerators and freezers is available in a variety of sizes to accommodate different volume requirements at vaccine distribution and inoculation sites globally. Volume planning is important to reduce vaccine waste, a concern also addressed by the NSF/ANSI 456 standard. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 50 percent of vaccines are wasted globally each year largely due to temperature control, logistics and shipment-related issues.1

In alignment with Thermo Fisher's commitment to mitigate its impact on the environment, including achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the company's entire line of refrigerators and freezers is equipped with V-drive technology that ensures temperature uniformity, providing significant energy savings by adapting to the clinical environment. The entire series has also completed the Accountability, Consistency, and Transparency (ACT) Environmental Impact Factor Label process, providing scientists and procurement specialists with third-party verification of environmental impact and helping customers meet their sustainability goals.

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