How Biomedical Laboratories Maintain a Contamination Free Environment?

Biomedical laboratories are contributing a lot in health care industry. Extensive research, pathology tests, education, forensic analysis and many more studies are carried out in such labs. Biosafety of people working inside the lab is an important aspect. Apart from this, the microbiological samples are very delicate for any contamination. First of all, it is not easy to get samples and once you get the sample you cannot afford to prepare a study based on contaminated sample. This would completely change the purpose of study and generation of the wrong report creates a lot of misunderstanding. Just imagine, what damage a wrong pathology report of a patient can do.

Sterilisation of Glassware

In biomedical labs, glassware like pipettes, petri dishes, test tubes, beakers, etc. are very important. When used in testing they should not contaminate the sample. For instance, a blood sample is taken on a slide, the slide itself is contaminated with microorganisms. This would generate inaccurate pathology test reports. Apart from this, it is necessary to dry sterilise the glassware after wet cleaning with water. Otherwise, water residue may result in adulteration of the sample. This all can be avoided by employing using dry air steriliser or hot air oven.

Sterilisation of Equipment

Another way of sterilisation is moist air sterilisation. Autoclave mechanism creates a pressure steam inside the chamber. The stainless-steel utensils used in biomedical labs can be easily and quickly sterilised in this machine. It creates a pressure steam of a temperature of 121°C. the main advantage of using this machine is that what a hot air oven does in 2 hours, this machine can do in mere 6 minutes. Thus, it saves a lot of time.

Protection of Samples

Samples are not tested immediately once collected. Neither, we have such quick machines to do the job nor the technicians work like robots. As analysis process is long, this means the samples which are yet to analyse have to rest for some time. Laminar air flow bench provides a decontaminated environment to the place the samples. It is equipped with a HEPA filter to keep the microorganisms present in the air at a bay. This hood also requires sterilisation, as it has been carrying samples all day long. A UV light is used to decontaminate the air flow bench. It is designed very strategically so that there should not be any joint as joint promoted the accumulation of debris and supports sporing.

For more information about autoclave, laminar air flow bench and hot air oven, contact our experts.