Controlled Drug Cabinets for Ambient Storage

Even when refrigeration isn’t required, medicines still demand precise, stable storage conditions to remain safe and effective.

You might know it called Room Temperature Storage (RTS), Controlled Room Temperature (CRT), or simply Ambient Storage. While the terms differ slightly, they all refer to the same essential concept: maintaining medicines within a specific temperature range to ensure their safety and effectiveness.

What is Room Temperature Storage (RTS)?

RTS generally refers to storing medicines at typical indoor temperatures, usually between +15°C and +25°C. This term is commonly used in pharmaceutical logistics to indicate that medicines do not require refrigeration, but they must still be kept in an environment where temperature remains stable and within this range.

What is Controlled Room Temperature (CRT)?

CRT goes a step further by emphasising the need for a regulated and monitored environment. Unlike standard room temperature, CRT requires active temperature control and continuous monitoring to ensure that medicines remain consistently within the +15°C to +25°C range. This level of control is critical for protecting medicines that are sensitive to even minor fluctuations, which could otherwise compromise their quality.

What is Ambient Storage?

Ambient Storage is a broader term often used interchangeably with RTS and CRT. It simply means storing medicines at the surrounding environmental temperature, but this environment must be maintained within the controlled range to prevent degradation. While medicines stored at ambient temperature don’t need refrigeration, they still require protection from extremes such as excessive heat, cold, or humidity.

How does Ambient Storage differ from Refrigerated Storage?

Unlike chilled storage, which keeps temperatures between 2°C and 8°C, ambient storage keeps medicines stored safely between +15°C and +25°C. This may sound like typical room temperature, but in real-world healthcare settings temperature fluctuations can be easily caused by sunlight, air conditioning, or poor ventilation. This can cause deviations that significantly affect a medicine’s stability, shelf life, and compliance – potentially compromising patient safety.

At CoolMed, our ambient storage cabinets are specifically designed to minimise that risk. Every unit features our exclusive iCool built-in temperature probe and an external digital controller for simple, reliable monitoring. Resulting in continuous peace of mind that your storage conditions meet manufacturers’ exact recommendations, day in, day out.

Whether you’re managing a pharmacy, GP surgery, care home, or hospital, CoolMed’s RTS/CRT cabinets are purpose-built to support regulatory compliance and protect patient safety.

Why choose CoolMed?

• We manufacture, not just supply – Each cabinet is quality-checked at multiple stages for consistent performance.
• Wide product range – All available for next-working-day delivery.
• Old unit disposal – Let us take care of your previous cabinet for a small fee.
• 1-year warranty as standard.

Warranty for peace of mind

We stand by our products – and we know you do too. That’s why every RTS/CRT cabinet comes with a 1-year parts and labour warranty included as standard.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the difference between ambient storage and refrigerated storage?

Ambient storage maintains a stable room temperature between +15°C and +25°C, while refrigerated storage keeps temperatures between +2°C and +8°C. Medicines that don’t require refrigeration must still be stored within this controlled ambient range to remain safe and effective.

Why can’t I just use a standard room or cupboard for ambient medicine storage?

While a regular room might fall within the recommended temperature range some of the time, external factors like sunlight, central heating, or even the design of the building can cause subtle yet critical temperature fluctuations. Our cabinets are designed to consistently maintain and monitor the temperature, keeping compliance and protecting product integrity.

How do I monitor the temperature inside the cabinet?

Each CoolMed RTS/CRT cabinet comes with an external digital controller and our exclusive iCool temperature probe. These allow you to monitor internal conditions accurately and with ease, helping you maintain compliance with manufacturer guidelines.

Are these cabinets suitable for all healthcare environments?

Yes. Our ambient storage units are already being used in pharmacies, GP surgeries, hospitals, care homes, and clinics around the world.

Do the cabinets meet regulatory requirements?

Yes. CoolMed’s RTS/CRT cabinets are built to support healthcare professionals in meeting all relevant storage regulations, ensuring medicines are stored as per manufacturer instructions to maintain their safety and effectiveness. We are trusted by well-known pharmacies, such as TESCO Pharmacy, Boots Pharmacy, and many NHS trusts throughout the UK to provide reliable, cost-effective medical storage.