Steam Sterilizers
What is it ?
A widely used method for heat sterilization is the autoclave, sometimes called a converter or steam sterilizer. Autoclaves use steam heated to 121–134 °C (250–273 °F) under pressure.
Moist heat causes the destruction of microorganisms by denaturation of macromolecules, primarily proteins. This method is a faster process than dry heat sterilization. Bioindicators can also be used to independently confirm autoclave performance.
Steam Sterilizer
Features
The article is held at the temperature setpoint for a period of time which varies depending on what bioburden is present on the article being sterilized and its resistance (D-value) to steam sterilization. A general cycle would be anywhere between 3 and 15 minutes, (depending on the generated heat) at 121 °C (250 °F) at 100 kPa (15 psi), which is sufficient to provide a sterility assurance level of 10−4 for a product with a bioburden of 106 and a D-value of 2.0 minutes.
Proper autoclave treatment will inactivate all resistant bacterial spores in addition to fungi, bacteria, and viruses, but is not expected to eliminate all prions, which vary in their resistance. For prion elimination, various recommendations state 121–132 °C (250–270 °F) for 60 minutes or 134 °C (273 °F) for at least 18 minutes. The 263K scrapie prion is inactivated relatively quickly by such sterilization procedures; however, other strains of scrapie, and strains of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CKD) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) are more resistant.
What we do
ITSB exclusively represents Systec (Germany), in Malaysia for their range of more than 70 different types of autoclaves, with chamber volumes ranging from 23 to 1580 liters. In addition, universal installation options as a vertical top-loading or horizontal bench-top autoclave and numerous other features.
For the lifesciences and pharmaceutical industries, we are thus able to cater to
- Sterilization of liquids (e.g. culture media, nutrient media)
- Sterilization of solids (e.g. instruments, pipettes, glassware)
- Sterilization of waste (e.g. destruction of liquid waste in bottles or solid waste in waste bags)
- Sterilization of biohazards in biological safety laboratories
Top Loading
Systec V-Series, from 40 to 150 liters chamber volume
Front Loading
Systec D-Series & Systec H-Series, upto 1580 litres chamber volume
Pass Through
Systec H-Series 2D, from 90 to 1580 liters chamber volume