Share thisThe demand for reliable, safe, and effective equipment bio-decontamination service has increased significantly in recent years. Due in large part to substantial growth in today’s research animal facilities, the need for rapid and consistent methods of bio-decontamination for a wide variety of equipment, e.g., biological safety cabinets, incubators, and animal transport units, has become apparent.
Since its inception in 1976, NSF Standard 49, has contained formaldehyde gas bio-decontamination procedural guidelines for biological safety cabinets. This practice has been subsequently modified in the field to adapt to a diverse range of equipment. Formaldehyde decontamination has the following challenges:
• recognized as carcinogenic1
• requires a neutralization phase
• leaves an unhealthy odor
• deposits a white powder residue (paraformaldehyde) that requires post-clean up
• requires a long cycle time
Earlier this century, hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) was introduced as an economical alternative technique to traditional formaldehyde. Organizations, such as independent certifiers, tested HPV as a bio-decontaminant. Their challenge was to qualify HPV as a safe, fast, and effective alternative. In addition, issues concerning HPV’s efficacy, material compatibility, commercial viability, health, and safety issues would need to be established.
Efficacy
In order to assess the efficacy of HPV, ENV Services conducted a series of non-exhaustive trials on two biological safety cabinets (Baker SG-400 Class II-A2 and NuAire 425-600 Class II-A2). A BIOQUELL Clarus S suite was used to generate the HPV and was operated to the following parameters.