AUTOCLAVE

Every item used during an Antimicrobial Textile Testing must be sterilized before its use. Some items are purchased already sterilized, and others require performing a sterilization process in advance.

AUTOCLAVING

Autoclaving is a procedure that uses high temperature and pressure to sterilize laboratory items such as solids, liquids, and equipment. Follow these instructions to perform the autoclave process using an autoclave machine:

INSTRUCTIONS
Preparing the items to sterilize

• Media and liquids
  
  • Place the media or liquid in a media bottle making sure that it does not exceed half of the container’s volume to avoid possible spills during the autoclave process.
  • Loosely close the lid and put autoclave tape on the lid.
• Hazardous waste
  
  • Place the waste in an autoclavable bag and close it at the top with autoclave tape
• Instruments
  
  • Place the item in a sterilization pouch
• Pipette tips
  
  • Place the tips in a rack, and close the lid with autoclave tape

Loading and setting up the autoclave

• Check the water level on the autoclave machine, adding deionized water if necessary.
• Place the items to sterilize in a metallic container to avoid spills.
• Load the metallic container onto the autoclave machine and, if necessary, load a biological indicator
• Close the autoclave door and secure rotating the handle until the door closed light turns on
• Select the desired program, temperature, and time.
• Press Start

After the autoclave process is complete

• Wait until the screen indicates that the cycle is complete in order to open the door.
• Remove the items from the autoclave, carefully handling them with gloves since they will be at elevated temperature.
• Use the media and instruments as needed, and properly discard the autoclaved trash.