Share thisDecontamination with vaporized hydrogen peroxide using a rack washer as a decontamination lock
Modern laboratory animal facilities often require the introduction of a vast array of electronic equipment (e.g., hoods, air supply units for IVCs, computers, laser printers, etc.) into microbiologically defined areas. The decontamination of this kind of equipment represents a challenge since they cannot be autoclaved and are not very suitable for off-site decontamination (e.g., with ethylene oxide) due to their dimensions and/or fragility. For many years, the traditional solution to this problem has been the use of formaldehyde fumigation. However, the use of this technique is becoming problematic due to the toxicity and carcinogenic potential of formaldehyde and its residues. A number of chemical alternatives to formaldehyde are today available on the market and their use is mediated and made possible by complex technologies like gas generators or basic technical methods such as simple fogging with ready-to-use liquid disinfectants. Electronic equipment however, being moisture-sensitive, is not compatible with fogging techniques.
Vaporized hydrogen peroxide is increasingly used in laboratory animal facilities for the on-site decontamination of heat- and moisture-sensitive equipment due to its broad-spectrum of antimicrobial efficacy and material compatibility (Block, 1991; Krause et al., 2001; Krause & Riedesel, 2001; McDonnell et al., 2001). Interest in this technology further increased after the publication on the capability of vaporized hydrogen peroxide to inactivate prions (Fichet et al., 2004).
This article describes the use of a pass-through rack washer (IWT srl Casale Litta, VA Italy) in association with a mobile vaporized hydrogen peroxide generator (Steris VHP 1000ED-S, Steris Corporation, Mentor, OH) as a flexible system to decontaminate various pieces of equipment to be introduced into two recently built mouse barrier facilities.