THE AUTOCLAVE- APPROACH WITH CAUTION!

The autoclave is one of the standard equipment in any fermentation activity or in the microbiology laboratory. Some of the autoclaves occur as independent units on its own while there are those which are in built into the fermentor for in situ sterilization. Irrespective most of these autoclaves are used for sterilization purposes. This is especially so in pure culture fermentation work where there is the need to remove the occurrence of unwanted microorganisms at the onset of fermentation. The autoclave is also used at the end of the fermentation run for sterilization or disinfection to avoid biohazards.
There are many options available in disinfection or sterilizations besides autoclaving. Yet in most cases in fermentation, autoclaving is the preferred method of sterilizations. Despite its wide usage there are many of us who take the autoclave for granted without understanding its principles of operations and even its limitations. In my years of autoclaving, everybody seems to remember the steps in the operation of the autoclaves without taking time to understand its limitations. The users have more faith in the operation of the autoclaves as 100% ‘fool proof’ and that there would be no problems with its operation or the efficiency of the sterilization process carried out using the autoclaves.
Thus it is often not surprising that often the quality of sterilization is poor and that the autoclave is not working to their expectations. By then it is often too late….. .
One of the biggest issues in having autoclaves is that often the autoclave in the laboratory have to accommodate all kinds of users (from students, post graduates, post docs and even laboratory assistants and attendants) Too many users with too many types of materials to be autoclaved who may vary from having to little knowledge to excessive pseudo knowledge in the proper use of autoclaves.
At some point, these users are exposing themselves to various health hazards from explosions to even being scald alive! REMEMBER! THE AUTOCLAVE IS IN REALITY A BOILER WHICH WRONGLY USED COULD RESULT IN HIGH PRESSURE AND HOT STEAM!
So many years observing autoclaving have seen many common mistakes made mostly attributed to poor understanding of the autoclave operation to the dangerous ‘don’t care attitude’
Common mistakes often observed have seen plastic trays used to hold the stuff to be sterilized becoming lumps of melting plastic, Melting agar flushed down the pipes resulting in blockages, over spilling of media and even projectiles of bolts and nuts!
Yet again and again lessons are not learnt as proven by the mistakes which occur repeatedly.
It is very very important that those using fermentors and autoclaves are properly trained in using the autoclaves to ensure their very own safety! Those that use the autoclaves need proper training and be supervised and to pass examinations on the use of autoclaves!


Type rest of the post here.