Too Hot to Handle: A basic autoclave safety program
By Vince McLeod, CIH
By following our simple three step program of training, testing/monitoring/maintenance, and recordkeeping, you can avoid mishaps and potential significant damage or injury.
Since You Asked…. “How can we purchase equipment on shrinking budgets?”
By Jack Metterville
Make a number of inquiries and don’t be afraid to ask for the best price.
Novel Techniques for Handling, Sterilization, and Storage of Removable Water Valves with an Automatic Watering System
By Tracy Latalladi, George Langan,DVM, Betty Theriault, DVM, Thomas Clark
An increase in flooded cages revealed valves damaged by the handling processes.
How Clean is Clean?
By Steven Feinstein
Understanding the various cleaning levels can help you identify an appropriate safety and decontamination plan for your facility.
Hold the Steam
By David Waldrab
Dry heat sterilization systems use forced air convection technology for reduced energy consumption.
Bulk Size Autoclaves
By John Bucar
In today’s economic environment, it’s critical that facilities utilize resources and space as efficiently as possible. That being said, more practical solutions need to be available in order to help facilities achieve optimal operation.
Sterilizer Wet Loads
By Dave Mitchell
Post-sterilization, condensate issues (wet loads) in steam autoclaves may be the single leading technical issue for sterilizers.
Sanitation Chemicals for Laboratory Animal Science
By Amy Ingraham, BA, RTLAG, F. E. Lynch, K. B. Shapiro
In laboratory animal science, there are visible soils (proteinaceous soil, urine scale, oils, etc.) and a myriad of microbial clutter that, while not visible to the naked eye, are extremely important to eradicate from the environment.
Quality Assurance: Best Practices in an ABSL-3 Environment
By Melissa Williams, BS,LATG, Brad Fisher, AA, LATG, James Magrath, LATG
As Animal Biosafety Level 3 (ABSL-3) suites become more prevalent within the biomedical research community, laboratory animal care professionals must increasingly meet the challenges posed by safety regulations and policy requirements. Developing the appropriate standard operating procedures (SOPs) within these environments holds the keys to achieving this.
Selecting Plastic Animal Cages
By Dave Demorotski
Buying on price is one way. But if you can answer a few what’s and how’s about your facility caging needs and procedures, you can purchase cages that will last longer plus add value.
Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor Bio-decontamination for Equipment
By Mike Wessner, Dave Phillips, Carl Peiffer
The demand for reliable, safe, and effective equipment bio-decontamination service has increased significantly in recent years.
The Bio-Facility Waste Management Quandry: A Logical Approach
By Kim Etherington
There are many factors to consider when determining the method of waste disposal for a facility.
Hold the Steam: Sterilization Using Dry Heat
By Erin Wall
Sterilization in laboratory animal facilities has recently seen several changes aimed at decreasing costs; increasing workplace safety and comfort; and minimizing wear on cages and equipment.
Animal Biosafety Level 3: Effective Strategies to Safeguard Facilities and Personnel
By Brad Fisher, AA, LATG, Melissa Williams, BS,LATG, James Magrath, LATG
The need for Animal Biosafety Level (ABSL) 3 and 4 facilities has been identified as a high priority by research institutions nationwide. The critical nature of research performed within these facilities is emphasized by the level of work performed and the risk of exposure.
Sterilization and Hazard Containment
By Jack R. Hoff
For any sterilizer used in a BSL3 or BSL4 application, the issues of safety and containment stems from what occurs during the various phases of the sterilization cycle.
Design Considerations for Placement of Autoclaves in BSL and ABSL Containment Facilities
By Ted Shlisky, PE, MS
When double door autoclaves are placed into a BSL-3 or BSL-4 laboratory, several decisions should be reviewed by the lab planner and/or architect
All the elements that go into designing a sterilization system must be determined while keeping containment in mind.
Controlling the Consumption of Sterilization Utilities
By Joseph Gaglio, Arthur Trapotsis
With the rising cost of all utilities, a facilities planner or purchaser of sterilization equipment must be cognizant of the operating costs, not just the purchase price.
Custom Controls For Special Applications
By Chris Cosgrove
One option that may not always be considered is the customization of controls on processing equipment to meet special applications. Autoclaves in the vivarium serve one of two functions; either they sterilize caging and materials prior to their entry into a barrier or they decontaminate cages and materials coming out of a containment area. Sometimes the autoclave is placed in the wall of the barrier or containment area. In some cases, that location is adjacent to the cage wash area as well (Figure 1).
Sterilization in Biocontainment Facilities
By Rich Apolinar
With the heightened awareness concerning biocontainment and the emerging biohazard agents in the world today, lab designers and architects are driven to design to higher standards of containment for Bio-Safety Level (BSL) laboratory facilities.
Liquid Waste Decontamination Systems
By Carl C. Schultz, P.E.
The United States has entered into an uneasy time where the study of dangerous biological agents is on the rise. The federal government is channeling millions of dollars into research that is requiring the construction of biosafety laboratories. At the heart of biosafety is the containment of hazardous agents through multiple levels of barriers. Primary barriers pertain to equipment such as gloves, gowns, masks, biosafety cabinets, and respiratory protection as well as the use of good laboratory techniques.