1 Year Later: How CSS Contributed to Fighting COVID

March 11, 2021, marked the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization’s announcement officially declaring the novel coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. In the days, weeks and months following the announcement, the world seemed to turn upside down and everyone, including we here at Consolidated Sterilizer Systems, struggled to adapt to what has been deemed “the new normal.”

Yet even in these unprecedented times, researchers have been diligently working to better understand the virus, develop vaccines and save lives. Consolidated Sterilizer Systems is proud to have contributed to this research, supporting dozens of clients in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 and its emerging variants.

Over the past 12 months, we’ve scaled up production to accommodate the growing need for sterilization equipment in research facilities and medical institutions performing coronavirus research, COVID-19 testing, vaccine development, and more. Some examples of our work include:

• Installing a pass-thru autoclave for a Manhattan-based Biosafety Level 3 laboratory conducting coronavirus research. The unit in question featured effluent decontamination capabilities to cleanse any air or steam of traces of biological agents studied in the lab and an emergency power source, so that researchers could continue vital work even in the event of a power failure. The project also required a custom installation to accommodate the spatial constraints within the existing facility.
• Providing autoclaves to molecular diagnostic testing labs, like Quest Diagnostics and Promega Corporation, that perform important work in the supply chain to fight COVID-19 and other viruses.
• Writing about N95 mask decontamination:  Consolidated’s Director of Engineering, Amit Gupta, participated in N95DECON, a collective of volunteer scientists, engineers, clinicians and students dedicated to publishing and disseminating scientific research pertaining to N95 mask decontamination. Founded in the early days of the pandemic, during the personal protective equipment shortage, N95DECON was created to combat misinformation around SARS-CoV-2 and support the safety of healthcare workers. In addition to this important work, Gupta has also published materials on the process of decontaminating N95 masks using steam sterilization.
• Partnering with D.A.I. Scientific to provide autoclaving equipment for a Midwest-based media manufacturing company that needed to expand a new wing for the production of COVID-19 sample collection materials. The project, which had an accelerated timeline, involved numerous specifications, including important cycle and programming needs and utility requirements. Ultimately, we were able to deliver two autoclaves in accordance with the client’s strict deadline, as well as provide additional installation and training services. The client was so pleased with our work, in fact, that they have since ordered two additional units.

These are but a few examples demonstrating Consolidated’s role in the fight against COVID-19; our autoclaves have also been used to assess nasal swabs for COVID-19 testing, and we’ve helped multiple university clients, including Harvard University, prepare for coronavirus research.

The past year has proven challenging at best and tragic at worst. However, for the first time in a long time, there is cause for optimism: COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out at an increasing rate, giving us hope that a return to relative normalcy may be right around the corner. The entire team here at Consolidated Sterilizer Systems is proud of the role we’ve played in COVID-19 research and we look forward to providing support for other critical research in the future.

To learn more about our COVID-19 projects or to speak to a specialist, please contact Consolidated Sterilizer Systems today.