Two Blood Products, Two Cabinets: Match the Unit to What It Stores, Then to Peak Volume
38 transfusion cold storage units from Follett, Thermo Scientific, Corepoint, Migali, Accucold and Roemer: blood bank refrigerators holding whole blood and red cells at the 1-6C storage band, plasma freezers at -30C, a -40C plasma chiller for the rapid-freeze step, in 4.5 cu ft undercounter to 49 cu ft double-door formats, plus 8 to 100 L battery-powered mobile units.
Each side has its own page: Blood Bank Refrigerators and Plasma Freezers. Part of Refrigeration & Cold Storage.
| Model | Type | Capacity | Stands out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Follett REF20i Infinity Blood Bank | Blood bank | 19.7 cu ft | Variable-speed compressor, tight uniformity |
| Follett REF5BBP Undercounter | Blood bank | 4.5 cu ft | Satellite storage at the point of use |
| Corepoint NSBR492 Blood Bank | Blood bank | 49 cu ft, double door | Largest capacity in the collection |
| Thermo TSX3004BA Blood Bank | Blood bank | 29.2 cu ft | Variable-speed TSX platform |
| Follett FZR20i Infinity Plasma Freezer | Plasma, -30C | 19.7 cu ft | NSF/ANSI 456 certified platform |
| Thermo TSX3030LD Plasma Freezer | Plasma, -30C | 29.5 cu ft | High-volume upright |
| Follett FZR8-PC Plasma Chiller | Chiller, -40 to -30C | 7.5 cu ft | Rapid-freeze step for fresh plasma |
| Roemer HemoRoam 60 Mobile | Mobile, battery | 60 L | Transport between sites and drives |
One Combined Unit or Two Cabinets?
Facilities that handle both products should run one blood bank refrigerator and one plasma freezer rather than hunting for a combination unit: a single compressor failure in a combined cabinet takes down both inventories at once, and the saved floor space does not cover the cost of one lost shelf of product. The plasma chiller is a third, separate job: rapid freezing of fresh plasma before it moves to storage. Your accrediting body's standards (AABB, FDA) define the storage requirements; match the cabinet to the written standard, not to the catalog page.
What Separates a Blood Bank Unit From an Ordinary Medical Refrigerator?
Three things an assessor will check: documented uniformity across the chamber, so the bag in the bottom drawer sits in the same 1-6C band as the top shelf; audible and remote alarms with chart or digital recording for the permanent record; and drawers and baskets built for blood bags. The Follett REF25i and Corepoint NSBR231 are built around those requirements. Buying a general medical refrigerator for blood storage saves money until the first inspection; retrofitting compliance costs more than the purpose-built cabinet did. Add an independent data logger as the backup record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which size blood bank refrigerator do we need?
Count peak inventory in bags, not average. A 4.5-5 cu ft undercounter like the Jewett JBB404A covers satellite storage near the OR; 20-30 cu ft uprights carry a typical hospital bank; the 49 cu ft Corepoint NSBR492 serves regional volumes.
Is -30C enough for plasma?
-30C is the working point the plasma freezers here are built around; some facilities specify colder. Follow the storage temperature your accrediting body and medical director set, and pick from Plasma Freezers accordingly.
Is there a budget option for a small lab?
Migali's EVOx line, the EVOx-1G-BB refrigerator and EVOx-1F-BB plasma freezer, delivers purpose-built blood storage below the premium platforms' price point.
Can one unit store blood and vaccines together?
Keep them separate. Blood storage runs under transfusion-service standards, vaccine storage under CDC program rules; mixing inventories in one cabinet complicates both audits. Vaccines belong in Vaccine & Pharmacy Refrigerators.
Can I get configured pricing for a blood bank fit-out?
Yes. Submit a quote request with your peak bag counts and the products you store; our equipment specialists come back with a refrigerator-freezer-chiller configuration, pricing and lead times.
Read the full guide: Follett Blood Bank Refrigerators and AABB Compliance
MediDepot Purchasing Advantages
- Price Match Guarantee: found the same model for less elsewhere, we will match the verified price.
- Equipment Financing: spread the cost of transfusion cold storage over monthly payments.
- Extended Warranty Options: cover compressors and controls past the manufacturer term.
- Military Discount: available for qualifying military and VA medical facilities.
- Request a Quote: capacity planning and multi-unit blood bank fit-outs.
Related Buying Guides
- Follett Blood Bank Refrigerators and AABB Compliance
- Medical Freezer Temperature Ranges Explained
- Medical Refrigerator Temperature Monitoring
- Choosing the Right Medical Freezer
