Hey! that Autoclave Indicator tape is really great!
One of our teachers is moving on at the end of this term to take on "Head Teacher" at another school. I came in after recess to discover that several of his big packing boxes were very securely taped up with Indicator Tape!!!! (at $22 per role!!!). Apparently it holds really well, I am told. I wondered if I should sterilise the boxes until the tape goes black?
(If this address doesn't work I just accessed it through google.)
This site has a table comparing various methods af sterilization. Autoclaving is recommended so I will stick with the pressure cooker. However I am concerned that there could be pathogens escaping on the aerosols.
gwen wrote:However I am concerned that there could be pathogens escaping on the aerosols.
Hi Gwen,
Do you use oven bags to put your plates in when you are sterilising the used agar plates? This will stop aerosols. You can then discard the bags directly into the bin.
Thanks, I thought someone would say that just as I sent the last message.
Yes have used oven bags in the past but being stingy I usually use several layers of old polyethylene bags. When the faculty finances recover I'll buy some more oven bags.
I use oven bags in my autoclave, but have occasionally had my oven bags burst! I probably should get one of those vacuume pumps to suck the air out.
I usually set up my Autoclave in the fume cupboard with the door down and the fan running. That way, if anything goes wrong, the rest of the world will be exterminated before me!. Also, the autoclave needs to run at full pressure for about 20 minutes, which, co-incidentally is the "purge time" for the fume cupboard fan. When the fan turns off, I know I can turn my autoclave off.
the idea of using the pressure cooker in a fume hood. Our new fume cupboard is about to be commisioned the 1st one I have ever had that will actually work properly.
I can't bring myself to sterilise with anything less than a pressure cooker (old Path Deptment habits die hard)
I am always looking for new ideas and to keep up to date, so the site is great.
Diana
No. They won't let me go to the conference this year. They are afraid I might have some FUN!.
They let me go to the OHS course, though. That must come out of a different budget!
I hope you guys all have heaps of fun though, and tell us all about it when you get back!
Apparently it holds really well, I am told. I wondered if I should sterilise the boxes until the tape goes black? 
the idea of using the pressure cooker in a fume hood. Our new fume cupboard is about to be commisioned 
