Ask Us About Validating Your Autoclave Autoclaves for Microbiology & Life Sciences Labs Reliable autoclaving solutions are a must in the lab, where it’s essential to maintain high standards of sterilization. By eliminating harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and spores, autoclaves help maintain a contaminant-free environment. At Consolidated Sterilizer Systems, our autoclaves are well suited for life sciences research applications. Stainless steel and nickel-clad steel vessel construction are available in various sizes and configurations with programmable control options for pre-vacuum or gravity operation. Bioverativ Biopharmaceutical Case Study Play Video CSS’ Life Sciences Clients: Steam Sterilization & Life Sciences Laboratories Steam sterilization serves a crucial function in both life sciences and microbiology labs. It provides a reliable method of eliminating contaminants from routinely used tools and equipment, ensuring the integrity of experiments and research findings. Common autoclave loads for life sciences labs include: Culture media and agar plates Liquid media Glassware Pipettes Fermentation equipment Biohazardous waste Essential instruments and tools Popular Consolidated Autoclave Models for Life Sciences & Microbiology Labs Dual Chamber Tower Autoclave The Tower Model is a “stacked” dual chamber autoclave that drastically reduces the space required for sterilization systems within any laboratory setup. Shop All Double Door Pass-Thru Autoclave Choose from a variety of chamber sizes equipped with two doors. This series meets the tough requirements of biocontainment facilities, such as in Biosafety Level 3 rated laboratories, and clean-rooms. Shop All Single Door Hinged Autoclave Choose from a range of chamber sizes that are built with our time-tested and robust radial-arm, hinged door. Shop All Single Door Vertical Sliding Autoclave Choose from a range of chamber sizes equipped with our ergonomically friendly EZ-Glide vertical sliding door. Shop All Performance & Features From sustainability features that reduce water and energy usage to intuitive controls, we prioritize the features that make our autoclaves stand out. When you choose CSS, you always get proven quality and reliability, plus a high-performance solution for your steam sterilization needs. X1 Controls All of our sterilizers come equipped with this state-of-the-art and easy-to-use control system with password protection and 50 programmable cycles. Explore the X1 System Non-Proprietary Parts Consolidated’s sterilizers consist of high quality, non-proprietary parts that can be easily obtained from local suppliers, authorized service groups, e-store, or directly through Consolidated. Order Parts Sustainability Save water and energy in your medical facility with built-in eco-friendly — and utility-saving — features. View Sustainability Features Low Cost of Ownership From affordable service to lower utility costs, Consolidated sterilizers offer the lowest cost of ownership in the industry. Save Money EZ-Glide Sliding Door Simplifies chamber access with a sliding counterbalanced door that seals safely against an air actuated non-stick gasket. Available in both manual and one-touch, automatic power door configurations. See What's Inside For details on the CSS line of horizontal autoclaves, please check the product page. Cycle Selection Typical Cycles for Life Sciences & Microbiology Labs All of Consolidated’s sterilizers are equipped to run multiple kinds of steam sterilization cycles. Labs will find the following cycle types useful: Gravity The most basic sterilization cycle. Steam displaces air in the chamber by gravity (i.e. without mechanical assistance) through a drain port. Best for glassware, unwrapped goods, waste, utensils, and redbags. Liquids A gravity cycle with a slower exhaust rate to minimize boil-over. Best for media, LB broth, water, etc. Vacuum Air is mechanically removed from the chamber through a series of vacuum and pressure pulses, allowing steam to penetrate porous areas of the load that can’t be reached with simple gravity displacement. Best for wrapped goods, packs, animal cage bedding, cages, porous materials, and redbags. Looking for other cycles? Explore more cycles here >>> Autoclave Pricing Pricing for new, small- and medium-sized autoclaves ranges from $40,000 to $100,000, depending on the size, configuration, and options you select. For pricing related to your lab’s autoclaving needs, contact us for a quote. Our Commitment to You At Consolidated, we’re committed to providing the best customer experience, and that means supporting you through your entire autoclave ownership journey. Pre-Purchase Advice Not sure which autoclave is right for your lab? We can help guide you through the key components in choosing your sterilizer — whether you opt for a standard model or choose to customize your unit Installation Assistance Not only can we manufacture your steam sterilizer to your exact specifications, we also offer installation services. We’ll take care of getting your new autoclave up and running so you can focus on what matters most — your patients. Ongoing Support We stand behind our autoclaves, which is why we provide free technical and phone support for the lifetime of your unit. If there’s a technical problem, our service technicians and engineers will get to the bottom of it, at no cost to you. Plus, all Consolidated autoclaves come with a one-year warranty. See details > Not Sure Which Autoclave You Need? Help Me Choose Frequently Asked Questions What is a laboratory autoclave? A laboratory autoclave — also known as a steam sterilizer — is a sophisticated piece of equipment designed to use steam heat to kill any microbial life that may be present on a contaminated load. Autoclaves are considered essential equipment in almost any laboratory setting because they prevent the spread of foreign and sometimes harmful organisms within sensitive environments, ensuring the safety of researchers and the integrity of the research itself. What materials can I sterilize using a laboratory autoclave? Depending on the particular unit, laboratory autoclaves can sterilize a wide variety of goods, including (but not limited to) both solid and liquid media, metal instruments, glass containers, animal cage bedding, biohazardous materials, soil samples and red bag waste. What is the difference between a Class B and a Class N autoclave? The primary difference between Class B and Class N autoclaves is how they remove air from the chamber prior to sterilization. Class B autoclaves utilize a vacuum pump to completely remove air from the chamber, which enables steam to better penetrate the load. Class N autoclaves use steam from a boiler or generator to create downward displacement, which pushes air out of the chamber. Unlike a Class B autoclave, a Class N autoclave does not guarantee 100% air removal. For this reason, Class B autoclaves are preferable for more difficult loads that contain porous or hollow materials. Class N autoclaves are suitable for most standard applications. Does CSS offer laboratory autoclaves with different chamber volumes? Yes. We offer a wide selection of autoclave models with chamber volumes ranging from 3.9 cu. ft. (109 L) to 36 cu. ft. (1,019 L). You can view all of our laboratory autoclaves and corresponding chamber dimension and volume information in our laboratory and research autoclave brochure. Does CSS offer eco-friendly options? Yes. Here at CSS, we’re dedicated to helping our clients protect the environment (while lowering their operating costs) by reducing their water and energy consumption. To that end, our EcoJacket and WaterEco® water-saving systems come standard with all of our laboratory autoclaves, and we offer a range of additional sustainability features. You can learn more about all of our eco-friendly autoclave solutions here. Does CSS offer a warranty for laboratory autoclaves? Yes. All of our laboratory autoclaves include a one (1) year warranty covering defective parts and labor, as well as a substantial warranty on the sterilizer chamber. We can also customize your warranty to meet your specific needs. For more information about our product warranty, please contact our service team. What is the difference between a horizontal and vertical autoclave? While a horizontal autoclave features a chamber that’s horizontally oriented and accessed via the front of the unit, a vertical autoclave’s chamber is vertically oriented and top-loading. This leads to a smaller footprint for vertical autoclaves, as horizontal models sit in a wide frame to position the chamber at an ergonomic height for loading and unloading. Due to their larger capacity, horizontal autoclaves are better equipped for increased throughput. Though smaller, vertical autoclaves have the ideal chamber shape for accommodating long, narrow, or tall items.