This document explains what an autoclave is, why they can be dangerous, details that training is mandatory, describes training curriculum, provides a link to online training, describes best practices for using an autoclave, explains how to reserve an autoclave, and provides a like to the autoclaves page on the UW Environment, Health, and Safety site.
Audience
- Russell Labs faculty, staff, and students; Hub staff
Overview
Russell Labs contains several autoclaves for lab work.
What is an Autoclave?
Autoclaves use high pressure and moist heat to decontaminate biohazardous waste or sterilize equipment and research materials for experimental work.
Autoclaves Can Be Dangerous
- You can burn yourself or expose yourself to biohazardous agents.
- Read the equipment’s guidelines thoroughly before operation.
Mandatory Training on Autoclave Use
UW-Madison requires all people who use autoclaves to undergo documented training.
Benefits of Training
Training:
- Minimizes the risk for injury to staff and damage to equipment or facilities.
- Ensures sufficient sterilization of laboratory materials.
- Ensures decontamination of biohazardous materials is performed in accordance with regulatory requirements.
- Allows users to become familiar with the manufacturer’s operations manual of available autoclave model(s).
Training Delivery
- Online training, via the link below
- In-person training by an experienced member of your lab.
Mandatory Training Topics
If the training is done by an experienced lab member, these topics must be covered:
- PPE (personal protective equipment)
- Spill prevention and cleanup
- Safety precautions
- Proper loading and unloading of the autoclave
Online Training
Remove All Your Materials After Use
If you leave debris, like soil and plant matter, in an autoclave, it will find a way to the drain and clog it. Facilities will have to repair the autoclave, and until they do, the autoclave will be unavailable for all building residents.
Best Practices for Autoclave Use
- Do not leave an autoclave operating unattended for long periods of time; monitor operation periodically during a cycle in case of failure.
- The exterior surfaces of autoclaves are typically very hot, particularly on models 15 years or older which have little or no heat shielding. Attach conspicuous warning signs to remind people of the heat hazard.
- Do not stack or store combustible materials next to an autoclave (e.g., cardboard, plastic, volatile or flammable liquids).
- Do not overload an autoclave because it will prevent efficient steam distribution. Longer sterilization times may be required to achieve decontamination if an autoclave is tightly packed.
- Place medical (e.g., needles, razor blades) and non-medical (e.g., plastic pipettes, serological pipets, glass slides) sharps in an appropriate rigid disposal container prior to autoclaving.
- Do not overfill a biohazard bag. Steam and heat cannot penetrate as easily to the interior of a densely packed biohazard bag and may affect disinfection of its contents.
- Do not autoclave contaminated items and clean items together during the same autoclave cycle.
- Clean items generally require shorter sterilization times (15-20 minutes) while a bag of infectious waste (approximately 24″ x 36″) typically requires 45 minutes to an hour to be effectively decontaminated throughout.
- Before using the autoclave, check for any items left inside by previous users that could pose a hazard.
- Be sure to clean the drain strainer before loading the autoclave in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations
How to Reserve an Autoclave
You can reserve an autoclave via the autoclave reservation spreadsheet.
Additional Information
For information on the following topics, please see the Autoclaves page on the UW Environment, Health, and Safety site:
- Autoclave supplies
- Materials that can, and can't be autoclaved
- Handling and transporting waste
- Autoclave loading and unloading
- Spills, breakage, and injuries
- Routine maintenance and efficacy testing
- Efficacy testing indicator types
They also have the information in a PDF so you can download it and print it.
Resources
Questions
