Article

Biohazardous Waste Decontamination in an Autoclave

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing, laboratory and research facilities are required to decontaminate biological waste prior to disposal. This article is meant to provide guidance and recommendations to ensure optimal and reliable performance of the decontamination process using autoclave steam sterilizers.
March 7, 2019
Aaron Mertens

Key Takeaways:

  • Autoclave performance relies on air removal, steam penetration and load setup.
  • Place indicators in challenging spots, as dense loads may have varied decontamination temperatures.  
  • Leave biohazard bags slightly open to allow steam entry, improving sterilization.
  • Use Geobacillus stearothermophilus SCBIs to confirm sterilization effectiveness.
  • Verify sterilization with Type 4 indicators, thermocouples and cycle printouts. 

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing, laboratory and research facilities are required to decontaminate biological waste prior to disposal. In most cases, autoclaves are utilized to accomplish this task. This article is meant to provide guidance and recommendations to ensure optimal and reliable performance of the decontamination process using autoclave steam sterilizers. STERIS Life Sciences technical service specialist, Aaron J Mertens, and Director of Marketing, Marcel Dion, wrote a detailed article that explores why this process is recommended.

Read the Article

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