CSS CEO Contributes to New ABSA Book on Sustainability Written by: Scott Mechler Our customers have come to know and trust CSS products as the most reliable, affordable and customizable autoclaves for laboratory and medical research facilities across the globe. This reputation recently led to Consolidated lending a helping hand to The American Biological Safety Association (ABSA). Arthur Trapotsis, President and CEO of Consolidated Sterilizer Systems, helped co-author […] Tweet Like Share
How to Calibrate Your Autoclave in 12 Simple Steps Written by: Scott Mechler Calibration is an important but often misunderstood maintenance requirement for steam sterilizers. Done correctly, it ensures that the temperature your autoclave displays is the same as the temperature the chamber actually reaches, which has a direct and measurable effect on sterilization efficacy. In this article, we’ll explain what calibration is, what equipment you need to […] Tweet Like Share
Biosafety Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4: What’s the Difference? Written by: Arthur Trapotsis Biosafety levels (BSL-1 through BSL-4) are a set of containment classifications defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that govern how laboratories handle biological agents. Each level introduces new requirements, covering personnel practices, protective equipment, and facility design, in addition to the previous level’s requirements. The higher the level, the more dangerous […] Tweet Like Share
Laboratory Autoclave Steam Sterilization Cycles, Part 10: Immediate-Use (Flash) Sterilization Cycle Written by: Arthur Trapotsis There has been much debate around the antiquated term “flash” sterilization. The Association for Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), the Joint Commission (JC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have all made a concerted effort to clarify the use of flash sterilization, which is now known as immediate-use steam sterilization (IUSS). The particular cycle is not intended for routine sterilization but rather when specific instruments are needed for an emergency procedure. Compared to traditional gravity or vacuum cycles, which are performed at 250°F (121°C), immediate-use cycles are performed at elevated temperatures of 270°F–275°F (132°C–135°C). As a result, immediate-use sterilization cycles are often shorter than gravity or vacuum cycles, which is where the “flash” in flash sterilization comes from. Read more → Tweet Like Share
Why To Autoclave Liquids With a Load Probe Written by: Amit Gupta In our previous Sterilization Cycles post on the F0 Cycle, we briefly reviewed the process for autoclaving liquids with a load probe. This post further discusses the benefits of using a load probe for sterilization validation. A load probe is a temperature sensing probe located inside the laboratory’s autoclave chamber. It is configured such that […] Tweet Like Share
Laboratory Autoclave Steam Sterilization Cycles, Part 9: Air Over-Pressure Cycle Written by: Arthur Trapotsis In the ninth installment of our Steam Sterilization Cycles Series, we explore Air Over–Pressure, another cycle used to sterilize a specific type of liquid load. An Air Over-Pressure Cycle is used to sterilize small liquid loads that are extremely sensitive to evaporation or boil-over in laboratory autoclaves. Typical applications for this cycle include pre-filled pipet tips, small pre-filled vials, loosely capped flasks, foil sealed glassware, or any partially vented containers where even small amounts of evaporation are not acceptable. Read more → Tweet Like Share
Bowie-Dick & Vacuum Leak Tests: Autoclave Sterilization Cycles Written by: Arthur Trapotsis The entire purpose of a laboratory or medical autoclave is to, quite simply, sterilize; however, without the proper conditions for sterility, an autoclave may fall short of its mission. Validation is an essential quality assurance measure designed to ensure that your autoclave operates exactly as intended. There are a number of different ways to validate […] Tweet Like Share
Consolidated Sterilizer Systems Introduces the Ultimate Laboratory Autoclave Written by: Mike Peters New Autoclaves Feature Enhanced Safety, Space Savings, and Serviceability January 6, 2014, Boston, MA — Consolidated Sterilizer Systems announces the release of two new laboratory autoclaves in the EZ-Glide™ Vertical Sliding Door Autoclave series— models 26AV and 26BV. The new autoclave models feature unique power door operation designed for ease of use, simplified maintenance, and […] Tweet Like Share
Why Our New Laboratory Sterilizer Took 4 Years to Develop Written by: Arthur Trapotsis January 5, 2014 I’ve been CEO of Consolidated Sterilizer Systems for 6 years now and one thing I’ve learned along the way is to appreciate and embrace customer feedback. Early on in my career I kept hearing conflicting information about the design of our sterilizer doors. I would hear comments like; “Why don’t you offer a vertical sliding door sterilizer?” and “We love your radial-arm, hinged door.” Believe it or not, these seemingly different sets of customers were saying the same thing—that they both had poor experiences with the existing vertical door laboratory sterilizers on the market. Despite this information, we waited. The truth was we knew that vertical door sterilizers were prone to more errors and maintenance than the traditional, “radial arm, hinged” door and we wanted nothing to do with it. Read more → Tweet Like Share
Steam Sterilization Cycles, Part 7: Product Lifecycle Testing in an Autoclave Written by: Arthur Trapotsis In our 7th installment of the Advanced Cycles Series, we explore automated product lifecycle testing in an autoclave. Repeated exposure to an autoclave chamber’s extreme temperature and pressure conditions allows Quality Control Specialists to sharply accelerate product aging and evaluate the lifecycle of a product. Typically, this process requires that an individual (e.g. technician, scientist, engineer, etc) spend countless hours in front of an autoclave. What if you could program the autoclave to run multiple sterilization cycles (over multiple hours or days) with the press of a single button? Read more → Tweet Like Share
5.29.26 Protect Your Sterilizer & Keep Your OR Running With SterilSource → For sterile processing teams at healthcare facilities, providing purified water for their autoclave has historically meant accepting tradeoffs around floor space, budget, and throughput. Ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and other, smaller healthcare facilities have felt this most acutely, with many having to choose between installing a bulky reverse osmosis (RO) system that takes up significant […]
5.28.26 Consolidated Sterilizer Systems Introduces SterilSource, a Premium Water Purification System for Healthcare Facilities and Life Science Labs → May 2026, Billerica, MA — Consolidated Sterilizer Systems is proud to announce the launch of SterilSource, a compact wall-mounted water purification system designed to meet the demanding water quality regulatory requirements of healthcare and life science environments. SterilSource is available in three configurations, offering scalable water treatment solutions from basic mineral and contaminant removal to […]
5.14.26 Consolidated Selected as Small Business Manufacturer by the University of California → What Set Us Apart Throughout the RFP process, Consolidated stood out for our: Relationship with UC, which predates this agreement, with many campuses already standardized on our autoclaves Low cost of ownership through non-proprietary parts and third-party service models, including local service Built-in water- and energy-saving features Support for both in-house and generator steam Custom […]
