Regularly and precise cleaning of laboratory ware is of the utmost importance. The prevention of cross-contamination – the introduction of dirt or microorganisms into equipment – is necessary for the successful use of any laboratory, as well as the elimination of safety blunders that expose lab staff to health risks.
Read this guide to learn the essentials of laboratory cleaning equipment.
Cleaning Agents
Laboratory cleaning agents are made specifically for manual use or use in laboratory dishwashers. There’s a variety of laboratory cleaning agents available, each with distinct uses. In general, however, their chemical makeup is designed with a single purpose: to break down those residues typically found on soiled labware.
Types of Laboratory cleaning agents include:
- Dry powders
- Liquid dishwasher detergents
- Trace metal analysis cleaners
- Medical instrument cleaners
- Protein removal cleaners
Commercial/Laboratory Dishwashers
The main difference between laboratory and consumer dishwashers is that the laboratory kind is able to eliminate cross-contamination that occurs between wash and rinse cycles. They also use higher temperatures, meaning greater sanitation and faster washing speed.
Their internal design also reflects the different vessels that they wash. Laboratory dishwashers are equipped to hold the many varieties of laboratory glassware, such as test tubes, Petri dishes and pipets.
Ultrasonic Cleaners
Ultrasonic cleaners use soundwaves to clean soiled laboratory equipment. Here’s how they work.
- First, the dirty parts are suspended in a solution
- The ultrasonic cleaner then creates soundwaves that move through the solution, rapidly creating bubbles as they do so
- The bubbles just as rapidly collapse, breaking down and removing dirt from the equipment
There are different types of ultrasonic cleaners available. Moreover, there are ways of enhancing their effectiveness, such as by using special solutions corresponding to the equipment and soil type.
Autoclaves
An autoclave is a sterilisation machine that kills harmful microorganisms. Though there are different classes of autoclaves, their main characteristics remain the same. They use extremely high temperatures and high pressure to sterilise equipment.
However, they do not actually clean equipment. This means that autoclaves are best used in conjunction with the other labware cleaning methods.
Sterilisation can’t be detected by the naked eye. Fortunately, there are some additional products that can indicate whether or not the autoclave is effective. These range from biological indicators to strips and tapes.
Due to autoclaves’ extreme operating temperatures, certain articles of labware are unable to go into them. For instance, the maximum use temperatures of products made of polyethylene, polystyrene or polyurethane are below standard autoclave sterilisation temperatures.
Which type of laboratory cleaning equipment is best?
As this guide shows, there are many types of laboratory cleaning equipment. In each separate case, the most suitable option depends on the required level of cleanliness, the cause of contamination, and the nature of the equipment itself.
