Biological Laboratory Practices

Autoclaves

Manufacturer recommendations.
  • Be sure to clean the drain strainer before loading the autoclave.
  • Before loading containers of liquids into the autoclave, the caps must be loosened to avoid having the bottles shatter during pressurization.
  • Use a tray with a solid bottom and walls to contain bottles and catch spills.
  • Add 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water so the bottles will heat evenly.
  • Don't load plastic materials that are not compatible with the autoclave.
  • Individual glassware pieces should be within a heat resistant plastic tray on a shelf or rack, and never placed directly on the autoclave bottom or floor.
  • Make sure the door of the autoclave is fully closed and the correct cycle has been selected before starting.
  • Wear heat-resistant gloves when cracking the autoclave door open after a run.
  • Before removing autoclaved items, wait 5 minutes for loads containing only dry glassware, and 10 minutes for autoclaved liquid loads.
  • When removing items from the autoclave, wear a rubber apron, rubber sleeve protectors, heat resistant mitts and a face shield. Remove the load and let the glassware cool for 15 minutes before touching it with ungloved hands.
  • Be alert for autoclaved liquid bottles which are still bubbling. Let liquid loads stand in an out-of-the-way place for a full hour before touching with ungloved hands. Hot glassware and scalding liquids will cause burns and serious harm.

Testing Autoclaves for Effectiveness

Autoclaves used for pathogen kill-loads or clean glassware sterilizing cycles, should be routinely tested once per month for killing effectiveness. Before placing new autoclaves into service, killing effectiveness testing must be completed. The most common method of testing is using commercially available test indicator kits with spore strips (usually Bacillus stearothermophilus). The spore strips are placed in the center of a typical load and run through a sterilization cycle. The spore strips are incubated with the non-autoclaved strips. To remove the spore strips from the biohazard bag without exposure to the contents, place the fresh spore strips inside of a glass screw cap tube. Tie a string around the neck of the tube. Bury the tube in the center of the load as you build it. Thread the string out of the top of the bag before you tie it with autoclave tape. After the kill cycle is completed, open the bag and pull on the string to retrieve the spore strip for incubation. If growth is noted on the autoclaved spore strips, try increasing the run time. If growth still occurs with run times of 45 minute or more, the autoclave may need maintenance and repair.

Autoclave performance information:

Autoclaves shall be tested before being placed into service, and then retested periodically for effectiveness.

Testing Periodicity or Schedule

  • Every 40 hours of use or monthly (which ever is shorter). Required for autoclaves that are used to inactivate human or non-human primate blood, tissues, clinical samples, or human pathogens.
  • Every 6 months. Required for autoclaves that are used to inactivate other material.

Method of Testing

  • A commercially available test indicator kit that uses bacterial spores (Bacillus stearothermophilus) is the approved method of testing autoclave efficiency. Most spore vial test kits require 56 to 60 ° C incubation of the autoclaved test vial along with a non-autoclaved control vial. Incubation causes surviving spores to grow.
  • New autoclaves
    Before placing an autoclave into service, a test load approximating the weight and density of the type of waste generated shall be autoclaved with test spore vials. The spore vials should be placed at the bottom, top, front, rear, and center of the autoclave chamber. This can be achieved by either:
  • placing vials at those positions within one large test load, OR
  • making several smaller test packs with 1 vial at the center of each and placing the packs at those locations within the chamber.

The appropriate parameters for sterilization including temperature, pressure, and treatment time shall be determined in this way.

  • Autoclaves already in use
    Needs periodic testing, place a spore vial in the very center of a test load prior to autoclaving.

Storage Information

  • Please read the spore vial product information sheet for appropriate storage information, but, in general, spore vials should not be frozen. Each batch of vials has an expiration date. Vials should not be used after their expiration date.

Recordkeeping

The following records regarding autoclave use must be kept:

  • On-site maintenance records
  • Autoclave use log (Each load of material inactivated shall be logged as follows:)
  • Date, time, and operator's name
  • Type and approximate amount of waste
  • Confirmation of sterilization
  • Record the temperature, pressure, and length of time the load is sterilized. Please note that temperature sensitive autoclave tape is not sufficient to indicate that the load reached sterilization conditions because the tape will change color at lower temperatures, OR
  • Save the autoclave print-out, if the autoclave has a working printer.

Autoclave Operating Procedures

A written sterilization procedure shall be in place for each workplace. This shall include the following:

  • Parameters
  • Appropriate parameters for sterilization shall be determined from the testing with spore vials.
  • The time it takes to sterilize a load will change, depending upon the load density and the sterilization cycle one chooses. Therefore, tests should be performed which imitate these various situations.
  • Protocol
  • Identification of standard treatment containers and proper load placement shall be made.
  • Cleaning
  • The autoclave and work areas shall be cleaned after every use and the work area shall be disinfected as needed.
Autoclave Operation and Safety Training

Autoclave training is given by the EHS (Biological Safety Professional) upon request. The training is geared toward research staff. It goes over proper use of autoclaves and how they may be maintained and used properly. Safety training is also given. If there are any additional questions on autoclave safety, contact the Biological Safety Professional at 882-7018.