How to Validate an Autoclave: Performance Qualification (PQ) Written by: Amit Gupta An autoclave undergoes qualification testing in order to validate and verify that it’s performing consistently and properly. In previous posts, we outlined the first two qualification tests known as Installation Qualification (IQ) and Operation Qualification (OQ). In this post we will review Performance Qualification (PQ) as a final critical step in validating your autoclave. What […] Tweet Like Share
Prion Sterilization: Common Challenges Written by: Arthur Trapotsis Transmission of prion diseases through medical equipment remains an ever-present possibility in many laboratories and medical facilities around the world. As such, prion sterilization should not be taken lightly. Facilities that lack prion sterilization equipment and protocols for exposed or contaminated medical instruments not only put lab personnel at risk, but also endanger any future […] Tweet Like Share
70 Years of American Made Autoclaves Written by: Arthur Trapotsis Seventy years ago William A. Barnstead acquired Consolidated Machine Corporation with a focus on producing rolling door autoclaves and water stills for the U.S. Department of Defense. Barnstead, an entrepreneur and rugged individualist, worked diligently to create for his company a strong and lasting reputation as an innovator in the sterilizer and water still industry. […] Tweet Like Share
Autoclave Chamber Material: Stainless Steel vs Nickel-Clad Written by: Amit Gupta Current, state-of-the-art laboratory autoclave chambers are manufactured using stainless steel. In the past, autoclave manufacturers constructed sterilizers using nickel-clad, a highly corrosion-resistant material. The industry has shifted due to the rising cost of “cladding” over the last 10-15 years, heading in the direction of primarily 316L stainless steel. Why should you care? Because while stainless […] Tweet Like Share
How To Validate an Autoclave: Operational Qualification (OQ) Written by: Amit Gupta Every laboratory strives for consistency and repeatability in its sterilization processes. But this doesn’t come easily. In order to ensure your autoclave operates efficiently it’s critical that you validate the sterilization process and verify that the equipment is working safely and properly. This is known as Operational Qualification (OQ), and it’s one of the most […] Tweet Like Share
Canopy Hood Designs: An Important Consideration for Your Lab Written by: Scott Mechler You have a lot of choices when it comes to ventilation solutions for your autoclave and some are better than others. Canopy hoods are an optimal solution for handling odors, steam moisture and low-levels of chemical vapors. The following are guidelines from the National Institute for Health for the design of autoclave door canopy hoods. The […] Tweet Like Share
Lab Ventilation Systems for Your Autoclave Written by: Scott Mechler The need for a proper lab ventilation system when running a sterilization cycle in your laboratory autoclave cannot be understated. Ventilation for autoclaves assures that the various odors, steam moisture and low-levels of chemical vapors that come from the sterilization process do not escape further into the laboratory setting. When not regulated correctly with an […] Tweet Like Share
CSS to Explore Future of the Autoclave at 66th Annual AALAS Conference Written by: Jason Thompson The future of the autoclave is coming to the 66th annual American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) meeting. Are you prepared? This year’s AALAS conference to be held in Phoenix, AZ marks the ninth consecutive year Consolidated Sterilizer Systems has participated in the industry-wide event. The meeting is held over five days (Nov. 1-5) […] Tweet Like Share
Autoclaves for BSL-3 Facilities—Part 3: Effluent Decontamination Systems Written by: Scott Mechler This is the final article of a three-part series describing BSL-3 autoclaves, also commonly known as biocontainment sterilizers. These types of sterilizers are essential in handling microbes that can lead to serious or potentially lethal disease through inhalation. Links to our first and second article can be found here: Part 1: The Bio-Seal Part 2: Autoclave […] Tweet Like Share
Why You Need a Cloud-Connected Autoclave Written by: Mike Peters Autoclave recordkeeping is an essential component of sterilization best practices. Industry standards stipulate that time, temperature, and pressure must be recorded for every cycle that is run, and those records must be maintained for three years. And today, thanks to the birth of the Internet of Labs (IoL) and the creation of cloud-connected autoclaves, researchers, […] Tweet Like Share
2.28.24 Setting up your SPD for Success: 8 Reasons to Own a Backup Autoclave → Steam is the most reliable and effective method for sterilizing medical equipment, and as a result, autoclaves are a fixture in almost every ASC’s sterilization setup. But, as is often the case, there are numerous situations in which ASCs find themselves without sufficient sterile processing capacity or a backup plan for when main units are […]
2.7.24 Consolidated Earns ACT Label, Highlighting Commitment to Sustainability → Have you ever wished that you could review an autoclave’s energy and water use, manufacturing impact, and packaging content similar to how you’d read a nutrition label at the grocery store? That’s the idea behind the ACT Environmental Impact Factor (EIF) label. Short for Accountability, Consistency, and Transparency, the ACT label demonstrates the environmental impact […]
7.12.23 Cordyceps Sterilization: How to Kill “The Last of Us” Parasite → In HBO’s recent adaptation of “The Last of Us,” a popular action-adventure video game, life as we know it is upended by a parasitic fungus that transforms its human hosts into zombies. The culprit? Cordyceps, a real-life genus of fungus which is best known for infecting insects (most famously ants) in much the same manner […]
