The success of the life sciences industry widely depends on the experiments conducted, which are affected by the quality of the sterilization equipment used.
The process of laboratory sterilization is rigorous and vital for producing accurate results. This article discusses how purity is maintained in life sciences, focusing on various laboratory sterilization equipment.
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Overview of Sterilization in Life Sciences Laboratories
For many diseases, the first point of contact is often a laboratory, whether it's for a yearly checkup or diagnostic tests recommended by a doctor. Biological specimens from patients are thoroughly tested in these laboratories, and the results determine the course of treatment.
Contamination in this context can ruin test outcomes and disrupt the entire treatment process. Cross-contamination can also occur, potentially leading to disease outbreaks. This is why sterilization in life sciences laboratories is essential.
Types of Laboratory Sterilization Equipment
Different techniques are used to ensure the safety and sterility of laboratory supplies and instruments. Examples include:
Autoclaves: One of the oldest sterilization methods, autoclaving uses steam under pressure to kill microbes. Autoclaves can sterilize various objects, such as surgical instruments, culture media, and glassware.
UV Chambers: UV chambers have been used in healthcare and laboratory settings for decades. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation effectively eradicates bacterial populations from samples.
Hot Air Oven: Known as dry heat sterilization, hot air ovens use high temperatures to kill microbes. The sterilization time depends on the sample's composition and thickness, with packaged samples requiring more time to be fully sterilized.
Learn More About Lab Equipment
Criteria for Selecting Sterilization Equipment
Selecting the appropriate sterilization equipment involves considering several criteria. Laboratory managers must evaluate the equipment's performance to ensure it operates smoothly and meets throughput requirements. The following parameters are commonly considered when selecting sterilization equipment:
Intended Use of Device
If the device is to be used directly on a patient (e.g., surgical tools) or in sensitive laboratory procedures (e.g., culturing cells), the sterilization equipment must be highly efficient to ensure maximum sterility. It should effectively eliminate all microbiological contaminants to prevent contamination or infection in research or medical settings.
Properties of the Device
The material composition and properties of the device to be sterilized determine the suitable sterilization equipment. For example, heat-sensitive samples cannot be sterilized by autoclaving; instead, alternatives like ethylene oxide sterilization, which uses low temperatures, are chosen for such samples.
Economic Feasibility
Laboratories often have limited budgets, making cost-effective sterilization techniques preferable. Assessing the long-term costs of the equipment, including maintenance and operating expenses, is crucial to ensuring it fits within the laboratory's financial constraints.
Safety Concerns
Some sterilization equipment involves hazardous elements (e.g., chemicals, radiation), posing risks to laboratory operators and the environment. If the laboratory cannot adhere to strict handling protocols, safer procedures that comply with safety regulations should be selected.
Best Practices for Effective Sterilization
Various sterilization practices are employed to maintain equipment and samples in a contaminant-free state. Some of these methods include:
Radiation
UV rays, gamma rays, and X-rays are commonly used for sterilization. UV rays are effective for small areas, while gamma and X-rays are suitable for large-scale sterilization. However, because radiation breaks down nucleoproteins, it is not recommended for sterilizing biological samples.
Using Chemicals
Heat-sensitive samples can be sterilized using chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide. This method is advantageous due to the low cost and easy availability of the required chemicals.
Autoclaving
Wet heating, or autoclaving, is a widely used laboratory sterilization technique that uses steam to kill microbes. This method is fast and efficient and does not require additional chemicals or disposables. It is applicable to a wide range of samples, except for those that are heat-sensitive.
Emerging Technologies and the Future of Laboratory Sterilization
With advancing technology, updating laboratory sterilization equipment and techniques is essential. There are several issues currently, and good innovation is strongly needed. Some technologies have already received FDA approval, while others are under review. For example, sterilization robots are a hot topic for research nowadays.
Utilizing automated systems provides a degree of accuracy and reliability that mitigates the probability of human errors commonly linked with manual processes. Another trending example is the cold plasma sterilization process, where ionized gases are used to sterilize sensitive medical equipment.
Researchers are also exploring methods to inactivate microorganisms (especially viruses) and break them down to nucleobases. This can be a significant breakthrough as such a technique can be applied to a wide variety of harmful organisms.
There have also been useful developments on the industrial side. For instance, the increasing use of single-use technology (SUT) refers to the one-time use of certain equipment (e.g., syringes, capsule filters). The use of this technology will reduce the need for repeated sterilization and increase overall efficiency. Thus, it is safe to say that the future of sterilization in healthcare institutions aims to further improve staff and patient safety by utilizing cutting-edge technologies.
However, like any emerging technology, laboratory sterilization techniques face challenges. Firstly, there is a huge variability in the types of sterilization equipment. Depending on the samples, the preferred equipment changes. Any standard laboratory has numerous objects to be sterilized, making it more difficult to ensure the complete elimination of microorganisms.
Addressing these challenges, imparting proper laboratory education, and investing in sterilizing equipment are the best options for now. This will automatically ensure the highest standards of laboratory conditions.
References
- Sapkota, A. (2023). Autoclave: parts, principle, procedure, types, uses. Microbe Notes. Accessed March 2024 from https://microbenotes.com/autoclave/
- Kreitenberg, A., & Martinello, R. A. (2021). Perspectives and Recommendations Regarding Standards for Ultraviolet-C Whole-Room Disinfection in Healthcare. Journal of research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 126, 126015. doi:https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.126.015
- Jami McLaren; Medical Device Sterilization Modality Selection Decision Process. Biomed Instrum Technol 1 June 2020; 54 (s1): 6–14. doi: https://doi.org/10.2345/0899-8205-54.s3.6
- Jagadeeswaran, I., & Chandran, S. (2022). ISO 11135: Sterilization of Health-Care Products—Ethylene oxide, requirements for development, validation and routine control of a sterilization process for medical devices. In Springer eBooks (pp. 145–153). doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91855-2_9
- 5 common methods of lab sterilization. (2023). SEPS Services. Retrieved February 2024 from doi:https://www.sepsservices.com/resources/5-common-methods-of-lab-sterilization/
- The next milestone in sterilization. (2021). Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-021-00344-8
- Shilling, B. (2022). Latest trends in sterile manufacturing. Life Sciences Commissioning, Qualification and Validation.https://www.icqconsultants.com/blog/latest-trends-sterile-manufacturing/
Further Reading