Page 93 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

62 Willy Schauwers

be allowed to come down slowly (to atmo- • Close the wing nuts properly (normal manual
spheric pressure and temperature around tightness is adequate).
80°C) to prevent liquids inside the autoclave • Allow the autoclave to cool to 80°C or less
from boiling and spilling. It is important to and check that the pressure gauge is reading
make sure that the autoclave is not still under zero before opening the lid.
residual pressure before opening it. • The use of alkalis (for example, sodium bicar-
bonate) for cleaning may cause corrosion
Articles for autoclaving should be cleaned of the pot and lid and should therefore be
(before autoclaving) of any residual organic avoided. Use normal household detergent to
material. Timing of the autoclaving process clean the interior of the autoclave.
should start when the sterilization pressure • An annual safety check will normally be
(15 psi) is reached. sufficient unless the autoclave is in very
A SOP of a portable Dixons autoclave can regular use. See ‘FORM-SOP-LABORATORY-
4
be found in ‘SOP-LABORATORY-EQUIP-04 EQUIP-04–01 Autoclave Dixons Inspection’.
Autoclave Dixons ST19T and ST3028’. • Electric autoclaves consume easily 2000 W,
therefore the electric wiring system should
be of sufficient quality to avoid electric
Standard care and maintenance of a
simple bench top autoclave failure.

• Fill the chamber with distilled water. Quality control
• Place the load properly prepared for steril-
ization in the inner liner, into a wire mesh • Check the silicone gasket for distortion or
basket or a bottle rack. wear and tear.

Figure 2.23 Autoclave tape Figure 2.24 Autoclave tape Figure 2.25 Autoclave tape
before sterilization. Photo: Dr Ziay after sterilization. Photo: Dr Ziay after sterilization (prominent
Ghulam, Dr Wahidullah Bahaer, Ghulam, Dr Wahidullah Bahaer, black lines). Photo: Dr Ziay
Central Veterinary Diagnostic Central Veterinary Diagnostic Ghulam, Dr Wahidullah Bahaer,
and Research Laboratory, Kabul, and Research Laboratory, Kabul, Central Veterinary Diagnostic
Afghanistan. Afghanistan. and Research Laboratory, Kabul,
Afghanistan.

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