APHIS Factsheet

Veterinary Services March 2013

Questions and Answers: 

The National Veterinary 

Stockpile and Portable 

Refrigeration Units

The National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS) program, 

coordinated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS), provides support to States, Tribes, and 

Territories responding to damaging animal disease 

outbreaks. Within 24 hours, the NVS can provide 

veterinary countermeasures—including certain types 

of animal vaccines, antivirals, supplies, equipment, and 

response services—to animal health officials in affected 

areas. To learn more about this program, see the NVS 

factsheet on APHIS’ Web site at www.aphis.usda.gov/

publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/

veterinary_stockpile.pdf.

 NVS can provide portable refrigeration units to safely 

store and transport animal vaccines.

Q. What portable refrigeration capabilities does 

NVS offer?

A. We currently maintain two types of portable 

refrigeration units in our inventory: VaxiCool® and 

FridgeFreezeTM. They are ideal for storing vaccines 

within the required temperature range of 2 to 8 °C. The 

units can be used to transport vaccines from a central 

storage location to a disease-free premises.

Q. What are the units’ power requirements?

A. The VaxiCool units are powered by conventional 

110 voltage alternating current (110v AC). After the 

unit’s temperature stabilizes and its batteries are 

fully charged, it can be disconnected from the power 

source and operate off its batteries as a portable 

unit. If the unit is operated and maintained properly in 

either refrigeration or freeze mode, it will operate for 

approximately 10 hours using internal battery power 

before needing to be reconnected to a power source 

for recharging.

The FridgeFreeze units can be powered independently 

by either conventional 110v AC or through a supplied 

12-volt external deep-cycle battery. If the unit is 

operated and maintained properly, it will operate for 

approximately 4 days using just the external battery. 

A solar panel trickle charger is also supplied that, if 

connected to the external battery, will provide sufficient 

power to maintain the battery during operation. This 

allows the unit to continue operating for an extended 

period. However, the solar panel must be exposed 

to a minimum of 7 hours of daylight each day to 

operate properly.

Q. What are the dimensions of each unit?

A. Each VaxiCool unit is 38 inches long, 21 inches 

wide, and 20.5 inches high, with an empty weight of 

120 pounds. 

Each FridgeFreeze unit is 38 inches long, 21 inches 

wide, and 22 inches high, with an empty weight of 

90 pounds. These fi gures do not include the external 

battery or solar panel.

Due to the size, shape, and weight of both styles of 

portable refrigeration units, it is recommended that two 

people move them. Handles are installed on each end 

to facilitate movement.

Q. What is the capacity of each unit?

A. The VaxiCool unit has an internal capacity of 27 

liters. It can hold approximately 12 500- milliliter (mL) 

vials or 60 100-mL vials.

The FridgeFreeze unit has an internal capacity of 60 

liters. It can hold approximately 46 500-mL vials or 230 

100-mL vials.

Q. Can the units be used on infected, contact, or 

suspect premises?

A. No. These units must remain outside of potentially 

contaminated areas at all times. The cleaning and 

disinfection needed on an infected, contact, or suspect 

premises would damage the electronic components and 

render the units inoperable.
Q. Are images of these units available?

A. A photograph of each unit is displayed in the 

NVS Logistics Catalog. If you are an NVS planner, 

you may request this catalog by emailing us at 

nvs@aphis.usda.gov.

Q. If I have questions about NVS or these portable 

refrigeration units, who should I contact?

A. Email us at nvs@aphis.usda.gov with any questions. 

More information is also available on our Web site 

at www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergency_

management/nvs.shtml.

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture

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