In many people’s cognition, as long as there is the word refrigerator, then it is the same thing, can be used for freezing items, but do not know that it is this cognition, leading to some storage mistakes.
Strictly speaking, refrigerators are divided into three main categories: household refrigerators, commercial refrigerators and medical refrigerators, while medical refrigerators are divided into medical drug freezers, medical blood freezers, Morgue Refrigerator and so on. Because of the different design standards of different refrigerators, their prices vary greatly, and in general, the price of a Morgue Refrigerator is 4 to 15 times higher than that of an ordinary refrigerator. Let’s learn more about the difference between a Morgue Refrigerator and a regular refrigerator and how to maintain a Morgue Refrigerator.

Difference Between Morgue Refrigerator and Regular Refrigerator

Morgue Refrigerator

The Morgue Refrigerator is designed for the professional refrigeration, preservation, and transportation of biological specimens, including cadavers, tissues, organs, and medical samples. Equipped with a digital temperature control system, it offers precise temperature adjustments, typically ranging from 2-8°C for refrigeration to -20°C, -30°C, -40°C, -60°C, or -86°C for freezing. The temperature is maintained with an accuracy of 0.1°C, ensuring optimal storage conditions. Ideal for use in morgues, hospitals, forensic departments, and medical research facilities.

Ordinary Refrigerator

Ordinary refrigerators are so common that almost every household has one. According to the purpose can be divided into refrigerator (BC), freezer (BD), refrigerator freezer (BCD). Usually we see on the market most of the household refrigerators are refrigerated freezer type BCD.
Household refrigerators generally use mechanical thermostat, can not always maintain the effect of freezing or refrigeration. In the things more or in a time to open the door within 60 seconds, the temperature difference is large, can not reach a constant standard.

NO.1 Material

Morgue Refrigerator liners are typically made of medical grade stainless steel or medical PP (polypropylene). Stainless steel liners are often used in demanding medical and storage environments due to their resistance to corrosion, ease of cleaning and high strength. Medical PP liners, on the other hand, have better antimicrobial properties and chemical stability, making them suitable for long-term storage of biological samples, cadavers, and other items, ensuring a safe and hygienic environment. In contrast, the inner liners of ordinary refrigerators use food-grade PP plastics, which are suitable for food storage but have different material additives that cannot meet medical standards. Therefore, it is not suitable for storing corpses or other biological samples.

NO.2 Differences in temperature control

The Morgue Refrigerator’s temperature control system is highly accurate, using multiple high-precision sensors to ensure stable and accurate temperatures. The temperature can be adjusted in increments of 0.1°C, with a wide range of temperature control, ensuring a constant and reliable storage environment. While ordinary refrigerators usually use mechanical temperature controllers with large temperature fluctuations, making it difficult to provide a constant low-temperature environment and unsuitable for long-term storage of sensitive biological samples or corpses.

NO.3 Performance Comparison

In terms of performance, Morgue Refrigerator’s temperature control precision, temperature fluctuation inside the box, temperature uniformity and stability are significantly better than ordinary refrigerators. Even after opening the door, the temperature fluctuation is smaller and the recovery is rapid. It is also equipped with a comprehensive alarm system and temperature recorder, which can record temperature changes in real time to ensure the safe storage of corpses or samples. Ordinary refrigerators perform poorly in this regard and are prone to temperature instability, increasing safety risks, and therefore cannot be used as a substitute for the Morgue Refrigerator.

4 Steps to Maintaining Your Morgue Refrigerator

A morgue refrigerator is an important piece of equipment in any hospital or morgue. Not only does it prevent bodies from decomposing, but it also protects the bodies and staff from any contaminants.
The next section will discuss 4 simple steps that should be taken to maintain your morgue refrigerator.

1) Keep the morgue refrigerator clean

Keeping the morgue refrigerator clean ensures that it functions properly and is free from contamination. Bodies and other biological samples should be cleaned and sterilized before entering the morgue refrigerator and then placed in sterile bags.

2) Check morgue refrigerator gasket seals regularly

If a morgue refrigerator gasket is damaged, it can cause several problems. First, it can be a source of bad odors in the morgue or autopsy room. Secondly, it can affect the temperature and condensation. You should regularly check the gasket seal for any tears that could cause air to escape.

3) Check for frozen morgue refrigerators

Hospital morgue or funeral home mortuary staff should also check for ice buildup on bodies. Regularly checking for and cleaning up ice buildup will help ensure proper operation, energy efficiency, and long-term stability of the morgue refrigerator and the safety of the storage environment.

4) Regular maintenance

If the temperature is out of the specified range, adjust the temperature control to bring it back to the normal range, if there is no response, you should contact maintenance personnel immediately. Regular maintenance can help keep your equipment running efficiently.

Your mortuary should be maintained at least once a year. By following this schedule, any problems can be caught before they get worse or cause further problems. This way, everything will remain clean and safe for the people who work in your morgue or mortuary, as well as those who pass through when needed.

How long can a body be preserved in a freezer?

The length of time a body can be kept in a freezer depends on the temperature and environmental conditions. Usually at temperatures between -20°C and -40°C, a body can be preserved for a few weeks to a few months.

How cold is a funeral home freezer?

The temperature of a funeral home freezer is usually kept between **-4°C and -10°C** to slow down the decomposition process and keep the body stable for a longer period of time.