Decontamination

The demand for safe, effective, and efficient bio-decontamination has increased significantly in recent years. Due in large part to the major growth in animal research within the scientific community today, research and development facilities have expressed a need for quick and reliable methods of bio-decontamination; hydrogen peroxide vapor technology demonstrates both successful and repeatable results.

The Jackson Laboratory: Bio-Decontamination Challenge
Before introducing animals into the barrier portion, 13,000 square feet, of a new 4-story, 32,000 square foot addition to their research animal facility, The Jackson Laboratory called for a bio-decontamination to disinfect the area following a through initial pre-cleaning. In considering the various technologies, both liquid and vapor-based available in today’s marketplace, The Jackson Laboratory selected hydrogen peroxide vapor technology based on its compatibility with the following key criteria:

1. capability for large-scale deployment in order to complete the simultaneous bio-decontamination of rooms, corridors, and other inter-connected areas in accordance within the constraints of the demanding project timetable;
2. ability to safely execute the bio-decontamination with no adverse health effects or exposure risks to employees or contractors still working in the same general area;
3. no changes to the building infrastructure or environmental conditions such as raising or lowering of humidity, adding wall ports or penetrations to the building fabric, caulking of windows, removal of light fixtures, etc;
4. residue-free technology returning the building complete for immediate re-occupation;
5. documented microbiological verification of the process efficacy of the bio-decontamination process in all affected areas.

Advantages of the Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor Process
Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor has been used as a means of effective bio-decontamination methods since the early 1980s within the pharmaceutical industry in aseptic isolators and chambers. Today, the technology has expanded to include the bio-decontamination of large scale pharmaceutical, governmental, and educational facilities including process areas and production suites, generally leaving equipment in-situ throughout the bio-decontamination process.

Some advantages of hydrogen peroxide vapor are:

Scalability: Gas generators can be used individually to bio-decontaminate a smaller area or be interconnected to adjust to larger facilities. Such features of this process offer flexibility in adapting effectively to the requirements of unique room geometries.