The limit for medicines kept cold is 2-8 °C (TİTCK Good Distribution Practice Guide, Section 4.2.5), and the thermostat is set to the middle of the band, 5 °C. The US CDC vaccine storage toolkit of July 2026 recommends the same midpoint.
| Setting | Risk |
|---|---|
| 2-3 °C | Freezing at the back wall and in front of the air outlet |
| 5 °C | Margin in both directions |
| 7-8 °C | Upper limit exceeded when the door opens |
A domestic fridge is designed for food: air from the freezer compartment can freeze the top shelf, while the door shelf is the warmest spot. The CDC accepts household units only as a last option; medicines stay off door shelves, out of vegetable drawers and away from the space under the air outlet. A single-door bar-style mini fridge is never used.
Measurement and layout are set up like this:
- The probe sits in the middle of the cabinet among the products; a reading near the walls, floor or door does not reflect the product.
- A memory thermometer that holds minimum and maximum values is read instead of the appliance display.
- The cabinet is not packed solid; tight stacking blocks air circulation.
Section 10.c.6 of the TİTCK Good Pharmacy Practice Guide requires regular fridge temperature records and a thermometer that raises an alarm in critical conditions and keeps its history. Under the same section, nothing may be kept in the fridge other than products sold by the pharmacy.