The Usage Of
Autoclave For
Sterilization
I. Vocabulary
Words
Sterilization
the removal of all microorganisms
and other pathogens from an
object or surface by treating it
with chemicals or subjecting it to
high heat or radiation. Sterilization
also refers to procedures that
result in infertility
Autoclave
a strong, heated container used for
chemical reactions and other processes
using high pressures and temperatures,
e.g., steam sterilization.
Charles Chamberland
inventor of autoclave and a French
microbiologist
Apparatus
non-machines used in a Lab. It may be a
beaker, conical flask, test tube etc…
Equipment
is a machine which runs on electricity like
disintegrator machine, friabalator, stirrer
etc...
II. Objectives
Objectives
• To share all the ideas of using the
Autoclave Sterilizer
• To give information and facts on how
the autoclave sterilizer works
• To completely view and teach all of
the safe ways in performing it
III. Discussion:
Subtopics
I. Autoclaves 3 Safety Guidelines
II. Four (4) Basic Parts of an Autoclave
III. Autoclave (Further Explanation)
IV. Autoclaving Procedures
1. Autoclaves 3
Safety Guidelines
Autoclave Safety Guidelines
• an autoclave is a common piece of
equipment, used in laboratories for
the purpose of sterilization of
equipment and supplies, which
poses several hazards to the user
Autoclave Safety Guidelines
• Burn Hazards
- pressurized heat on steam
- be cautious of hot surfaces when loading
and unloading autoclave
- recently autoclaved contents inside will be
extremely hot
- make sure to keep face, body and hands
away from escaping heat and steam when
opening the door of an autoclave
Autoclave Safety Guidelines
• Explosion Hazards
- failure of door seals while in operation
- explosions can occur when the seal of the
door malfunctions or when autoclave is
loaded improperly
- pressure and heat in chamber will escape
rapidly potentially causing serious injury
Autoclave Safety Guidelines
• Heavy Lifting Hazards
- loading and unloading of autoclave
- ask for assistance if the contents you are
loading or unloading is heavy
- use autoclave rack cart to move removable
rack when applicable
Preparation of Items for Autoclaving
• in preparing items for autoclaving, containers
should be unsealed and articles should be
wrapped in materials that allow steam
penetration
• it is more efficient and safer to run two
separate, uncrowded loads than a crowded
one
Importance
• moist heat in the form of pressurized steam
is regarded as the most dependable method
for the destruction of all forms of life,
including bacterial spores
• reliable sterilization with moist heat requires
temperatures above that of boiling water
Principle of Autoclaving
• a basic principle of chemistry is that when the
pressure of a gas increases, the temperature of
the gas increase proportionally
• in this way steam is a gas, increasing its pressure
in a closed system increases its temperature
• as the water molecules in steam become more
energized, their penetration increases
substantially
2. Four (4) Basic
Parts of an
Autoclave
Four (4) Basic Parts of an Autoclave
Chamber
Control Panel
Water Intake
Machinery
Autoclave Parts
3. Autoclave
(Further Explanation)
Auto Clave’s Tape
• Autoclave tape is an adhesive tape used
in autoclaving (heating under high
pressure with steam to sterilize) to
indicate whether a specific temperature
has been reached.
Autoclave’s Different Pattern of
High Heat
• Autoclaves often have an additional drying
cycle in which hot air is drawn through the
chamber to dry materials after sterilization.
Autoclave’s Different Pattern of High
Heat: Types
• The liquids runs longer than the other
two types, but uses lower temperatures
to minimize evaporation of the liquids
being sterilized.
Autoclave’s Different Pattern of High
Heat: Types
• The dry goods with vacuum run moves
steam and heat into the deepest part of
large bags or bundles of materials and
produce the best conditions for killing
persistent organisms.
Autoclave’s Different Pattern of High
Heat: Types
• The dry goods without vacuum run
simply pressurizes the chamber with
steam for the duration of the cycle and
then returns to normal.
Autoclave’s Different Pattern of High
Heat
• Autoclaves generate extreme heat and
high pressures, users should understand
and respect the hazards these create.
4. Autoclaving
Procedures
Container Selection
• Polypropylene bags
• Polypropylene containers/ pans
• Stainless steel containers and pans
Preparation and Loading of Materials
- Fill liquid containers only half full.
- Loosen caps or use vented closures.
- Always put bags of biological waste into pans to
catch spills.
- Position biohazard bags on their sides, with the bag
neck taped loosely.
- Leave space between items to allow steam
circulation.
- Household dishpans melt in the autoclave. Use
autoclavable polypropylene or stainless steel pans.
Cycle Selection
- Use liquid cycle (slow exhaust) when
autoclaving liquids, to prevent contents from
boiling over.
- Select fast exhaust cycle for glassware.
- Use fast exhaust and dry cycle for wrapped
items.
Time Selection
- Take into account the size of the articles to be
autoclaved. A 2-liter flask containing 1 liter of liquid
takes longer to sterilize than four 500 mL flasks each
containing 250 mL of liquid.
- Material with a high insulating capacity (animal
bedding, high sided polypropylene containers)
increases the time needed for the load to reach
sterilizing temperatures.
- Autoclave bags containing biological waste should be
autoclaved for 50 minutes to assure decontamination.
Removing the Load
- Check that the chamber pressure is zero.
- Wear lab coat, eye protection, heat insulating
gloves, and closed-toe shoes.
- Stand behind door when opening it.
- Slowly open door only a crack. Beware of rush
of steam.
- After the slow exhaust cycle, open autoclave
door and allow liquids to cool for 20 minutes
before removing.
IV. Summary
Summary
• Autoclaves are used in many areas to sterilize
materials by high heat and pressure. Used to
kill microorganisms.
• Burns can result from physical contact with
the autoclave structure and from contact
with the steam leaving the unit.
Summary
• Explosive breakage of glass vessels due
to temperature stresses can produce
mechanical injury, cuts and burns during
opening and unloading the unit.
• Burns can also result from careless
handling of vessels containing hot
liquids.
Summary
• Explosive breakage of glass vessels due to
temperature stresses can produce mechanical
injury, cuts and burns during opening and
unloading the unit.
• Burns can also result from careless handling of
vessels containing hot liquids.
• There are safety Guideline you really must obey
and it was simply distributed in 3 parts, the Burn
Hazzard, the Explosion Hazzard, and the Heavy
Lifting Hazzard.
Summary
• The 4 major or basic parts of a common autoclave is
the water intake, chamber, control panel and the
machinery which gives you the perfect sterilization
process.
• Additionally, because of the extreme conditions
created inside steam autoclaves, they can easily
malfunction if not carefully maintained.
• Because each autoclave make / model has unique
characteristics, it is imperative that you read and
thoroughly understand the manufacturers operating
procedures before you use an autoclave for the first
time.
Summary
• An autoclave uses different patterns of high
heat, vacuum and pressure to sterilize
material.
• The main types of runs are:
- liquids, for any type of water-based
solutions,
- dry goods with vacuum, and
- dry goods without vacuum
V. Sources
Sources
• 1. Microbiology, Jacquelyn Black, Prentice Hall,1993
pg 334
• 2. "Chronological reference marks - Charles
Chamberland (1851–1908)". Pasteur Institute. Archived
from the original on 19 December 2006. Retrieved
2007-01-19.
• 3. Hugo WB (July 1991). "A brief history of heat and
chemical preservation and disinfection". J. Appl.
Bacteriol. 71 (1): 9–18. doi:10.1111/j.13652672.1991.tb04657.x. PMID 1894581.
• 4. "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com.
Retrieved 2012-06-04.
Sources
• 5. "Sterilization Cycles". Consolidated Machine
Corporation. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
• 6. Seymour Stanton Block (2001). Disinfection,
Sterilization, and Preservation. Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0-683-30740-5.
Retrieved 19 January 2013.
• 7. R. B. Simpson (28 February 2002). Rubber
Basics. iSmithersRapra Publishing. p. 161. ISBN
978-1-85957-307-5. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
VI. Short Quiz
(1-10)
1. What is a strong, heated container
used for chemical reactions and other
processes using high pressures and
temperatures?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Apparatus
Autoclave Sterilizer
Sterilization Process using Autoclave
Sterilized Apparatus
2. The process that destroys or removes
all microorganisms and microbial forms
including bacterial endospores on
inanimate objects is called ___________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Sterilization
Disinfection
Degermination
Sanitation
3. Which of the following is not a factor
that affects germicidal activity?
a. The material being treated
b. The length of exposure
c. The microorganism being raced
d. All of these are factors
4. Sterilization is achieve by
_______________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Flash pasteurization
Boiling water
Steam autoclave
Hot Water
5. It is a reservoir for the small autoclave
and a hose for a bigger autoclave
where the water that is needed by the
machine intakes.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Control Center
Water Intake
Machinery
Chamber
6. ______________________ indicators can be
found on medical packaging and
autoclave tape, and these change color
once the correct conditions have been
met.
a. Carbon
b. Chemical substance
c. Oxygen
d. Chemistry
7. Which of the following Safety
Guidelines is loading and unloading of
autoclave perform?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Burn Hazzard
Heavy Lifting Hazzard
Explosion Hazzard
All answers are correct except for B.
8. There are__________________, chemical,
and biological indicators that can be
used to ensure an autoclave reaches
the correct temperature for the correct
amount of time.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Particle Physics
Physics
Universe
Quantum Mechanics
9. Who is the Inventor of the Autoclave
Sterilizer?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Charles Chaimberland
Charles Chamberland
Charles Clamberland
Charles Chumberland
10. Which Autoclave’s pattern of high
heat runs the longest?
a. Dry goods without vacuum
b. Liquid
c. Dry Goods
d. All answers are correct except for letter
A.
Answer Key
1. What is a strong, heated container
used for chemical reactions and other
processes using high pressures and
temperatures?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Apparatus
Autoclave Sterilizer
Sterilization Process using Autoclave
Sterilized Apparatus
2. The process that destroys or removes
all microorganisms and microbial forms
including bacterial endospores on
inanimate objects is called ___________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Sterilization
Disinfection
Degermination
Sanitation
3. Which of the following is not a factor
that affects germicidal activity?
a. The material being treated
b. The length of exposure
c. The microorganism being raced
d. All of these are factors
4. Sterilization is achieve by
_______________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Flash pasteurization
Boiling water
Steam autoclave
Hot Water
5. It is a reservoir for the small autoclave
and a hose for a bigger autoclave
where the water that is needed by the
machine intakes.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Control Center
Water Intake
Machinery
Chamber
6. ______________________ indicators can be
found on medical packaging and
autoclave tape, and these change color
once the correct conditions have been
met.
a. Carbon
b. Chemical substance
c. Oxygen
d. Chemistry
7. Which of the following Safety
Guidelines is loading and unloading of
autoclave perform?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Burn Hazard
Heavy Lifting Hazard
Explosion Hazard
All answers are correct except for B.
8. There are__________________, chemical,
and biological indicators that can be
used to ensure an autoclave reaches
the correct temperature for the correct
amount of time.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Particle Physics
Physics
Universe
Quantum Mechanics
9. Who is the Inventor of the Autoclave
Sterilizer?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Charles Chaimberland
Charles Chamberland
Charles Clamberland
Charles Chumberland
10. Which Autoclave’s pattern of high heat
runs the longest?
a. Dry goods without vacuum
b. Liquid
c. Dry Goods
d. All answers are correct except for letter A.
The Usage of Autoclave for
Sterilization
• Submitted To: Mrs. Maria Victoria A.
Cello
• Submitted By: 8-Linnaeus,
Group 5
Reported by: Group 5
Group Members:
Lean Kate Peña
[Leader]
John Nover Alama [Assistant Leader]
Bernice Racca
Jerald Buniag
Kimberly Flores
Limitations and Disadvantages of
Autoclave
• the autoclave also has certain limitations
• heat requires extra time to reach the
center of solid materials, such as canned
meats, because such materials do not
develop the efficient heat-distributing
convection currents that occur in liquids