Practical applications of autoclave

Laboratory safety measures while using autoclaves. And its various applications in medical field.

2. Practical applications OF
AUTOCLAVE
PRESENTED BY:
AMMARA SALEEM
AMNA SAIF
LAIBA SALEEM
FARHEEN SHOAIB

3. Autoclave
Anautoclaveisapressurechamberusedtosterilize
equipmentandsuppliesbysubjectingthemto
highpressure(15psi)saturatedsteamat
121°Cforaround15–20(ormore)minutes
dependingonthesizeoftheloadandthecontents.

4. Principles of Autoclave Operation
•Steam penetrates objects in the autoclave
•Condensation creates negative pressure and
draws in additional steam
•Moist heat kills microorganisms via
coagulation of proteins
•Two types of autoclaves
•Gravity Displacement
•Vacuum/Gravity Assisted

5. Preparation and Loading of Materials
➢Preparedthematerialforautoclavingwithindicatorpaper/tape
➢Fillhebottomofautoclavewithwater,uptosupport
➢Placethematerialtobesterilizedintheautoclave
➢Alwaysputbagsofbiologicalwasteintopanstocatchspills.
➢Positionbiohazardbagsontheirsides,withthebagnecktaped
loosely.
➢Leavespacebetweenitemstoallowsteamcirculation.

6. Preparation and Loading of Materials
➢Oncetheexpectedtemperatureisreached,reducetheheatto
maintaintemperature
➢Donottouchthedrainagetapeortheoutletsorsafetyvalves
whileheatingunderpressure.Whentherequiredtimeisup,turn
offtheheatingcompletely.
➢Whentemperaturefallsbelow100ᵒC,opentheoutletvalve
slowly.Donotleaveoutletvalveopenedfortoolong.
➢Neverunscrewthelidclampsandopentheliduntilthehissing
soundhasstop.
➢Leavethesterilizedmaterialtocoolbeforeremovingitfrom
autoclave

7. Indicator Tape (Heat Sensitive Tape):
Indicator tape in an “X” pattern.
Not autoclaved
(no markings on tape)
Autoclaved
(markings on tape)

9. Gloves
Gloves must be placed inside of an autoclavable biohazard bag and
exposed to a steam setting; gloves will melt slightly but will not burn when
autoclaved in this manner.
Stainless steel
Most metals are designed for extreme conditions and are intended to be
sterilized. Make sure to remove any plastics, liners and other items that
may melt or combust.
EXAMPLES:

10. Paper
Paper is combustible and should not be placed directly inside an
autoclave. It should be autoclaved in a waste bag on a biobag setting
to prevent fire.
Media Solution
No liquid should be sealed in a container and autoclaved. Fill 2/3 of
the container and loosen caps. They should autoclaved in a steam
producing cycle.

12. Pipette tips
Most pipette tips are autoclavable.Some of these tips are plastic,
some arehigh density polyethylene.
In general, pipette tips should only
enter the autoclave as waste inside
Of an approved biohazards bag and
always sterilized on a steam-producing
setting.

13. NEVER AUTOCLAVE

16. PPE for Autoclave Users
Eye Protection
Lab Coat, Buttoned
Closed-toed Shoes
Heat-resistant Gloves

17. USES OF AUTOCLAVES

18. IN LAB:
Surgical Instruments
Plastic Sharps containers
Glassware
Plastic tubes and pipette tips
Solutions and water
Animal food and bedding
Biohazardous waste

19. ➢Industrial autoclavesare pressure vessels used to process parts and
materials which require exposure to elevated pressure and temperature.
➢The autoclave is a critical element in vulcanizing rubber;
high heat and pressure realign the polymer chains in the
material to make it elastic and durable. This is known as
a thermoplastic process, or making something moldable
by applying heat.
➢Autoclaves are part of the process of building rocket parts
that are able to withstand the heat and pressure of re-entry
into the atmosphere.
IN INDUUSTRIES:

20. autoclavesare particularly frequently used inquality control in the manufacture of
➢beverages ,
➢dairy products,
➢Chicken food.
➢EXAMPLE:
➢thereal“secret” to Fried Chicken wasn’t “eleven herbs and spices”; it was cooking the
chicken in a modified autoclave. For that matter,you can cook a 14 pound turkey in just 1.5
hours in a steam autoclave—that’s one-quarter the normal cooking time.
IN FOOD INDUSTRY:

21. ➢Hospitalsuse a largeAutoclavethat looks similar to a dish washer.
AHospital Autoclavecan process large numbers of surgical instrument
in a single cycle. InHospitalsanAutoclaveis also used for
➢dressing,
➢bedding,
➢rubber gloves or
➢any other material required
to be free from bacterial and
➢other similar contamination’s.
IN HOPITALS:

22. ➢A medical autoclave is a device that usessteamtosterilizeequipment
and other objects. This means that allbacteria,viruses,fungi, andspores
are inactivated.
➢However,prions, such as those associated withCreutzfeldt–Jakob
disease, and
➢some toxins released by certain bacteria, such asCereulide, may not be
destroyed by autoclaving at the typical 134°C for three minutes or
121°C for 15 minutes.
IN MEDICINE:

23. ➢They can sterilize culture media.
➢Microorganisms are commonly referred to as germs that include
bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites etc. that are able to cause infections in
our body.
➢Autoclave is a machine that uses pressure and steam to reach and
maintain a temperature that is to high for any microorganisms or their
spores to live.
➢Spores are environmental resistant form of microorganisms and they are
able to withstand with harsh conditions, they still can be killed if
extreme conditions are maintained for long time in autoclave.
IN MICROBIOLOGY:

24. Autoclave Cycles:

26. Precautions for Time Selection
Takeintoaccountthesizeofthearticles
tobeautoclaved.A2-literflaskcontaining
1literofliquidtakeslongertosterilize
thanfour500mLflaskseachcontaining
250mLofliquid.
Materialwithahighinsulatingcapacity
(animalbedding,highsidedpolypropylene
containers)increasesthetimeneededfor
theloadtoreachsterilizingtemperatures.
Autoclavebagscontainingbiologicalwaste
shouldbeautoclavedfor1hourtoassure
decontamination.
Incaseofculturemediamostlyautoclaved
athighpressure(15psi)saturatedsteam
at121°C(orhigher)foraround15–20
minutes

27. Material Temperature Time
Laundry 121°C (250°F) 30 Minutes
Trash (Biohazard bags
containing infectious
waste.)
121°C (250°F) 1 Hour
Glassware 121°C (250°F) 1Hour
Liquids 121°C (250°F) 15-20Minutes
Animals 121°C (250°F) 8 Hours
Autoclave Waste
Decontamination Procedures

28. Precautions for Removing the Load
◼Put on Personal Protective Equipment
◼Allow the autoclave to completely finish cycle
◼Pressure gauge must read zero
◼Verify cycle conditions were met
◼Open door slightly to allow steam to escape
◼While slowly opening the autoclave door, make sure to
keep head, face, and hands away from the opening.

29. ▪Verify that heat sensitive tape has changed color or word
“autoclaved” has appeared.
▪Allow contents to cool before removal.
▪When removing biohazard bags, always pick up from the
top, taped area of the bag.
▪Never handle biohazard bags by grabbing from the sides
or bottom.