Autoclave Training Checklist

• Info Sheet: Autoclave Safety
• Hazard Alert: Autoclaving Liquids & Scald Risk
• Medical Waste Management - “On or Off‐Site Research (BSL1 ‐ BSL2) / Teaching Laboratories (BSL1 ‐ BSL2)”

• Always wear long pants or other clothing covering the legs, and closed-toed shoes.
• Always wear eye/face protection (safety glasses/goggles and/or face shield). Location of PPE: Cupboard marked PPE/Safety behind the sink in the main lab on the right side
• Wear a lab coat or apron with long-sleeved shirt underneath. Location of PPE: Cupboard marked PPE/Safety behind the sink in the main lab on the right side
• Wear heat resistant gloves on top of nitrile gloves when loading and unloading the autoclave. Location of PPE: Cupboard marked PPE/Safety behind the sink in the main lab on the right side

• Ensure that only permitted material is to be autoclaved.
• Do NOT autoclave non-autoclavable plastic containers/bags, aerosol cans, or unknown contents.
• Do NOT autoclave volatile, toxic, reactive, flammable, combustible, or oxidizing chemicals.
• Prepare and load material to ensure proper steam penetration and venting.
• Bottles/beakers/other containers need to be capped loosely or covered with aluminum foil.
• Autoclavable waste bags need to be loosely closed with about an inch opening and secured with a ring of tape or rubber band.
• Fill containers no more than half full with liquids and bags no more than ¾ with solids to prevent spill and boil over. Label at least one item per run with your lab, name, and phone number.
• Use plastic or metal secondary containers on a cart for transport to the autoclave door.
• Within the autoclave, do NOT use cardboard as secondary containment to hold biohazard bags or as absorbent material inside secondary containers.

• Ensure the autoclave is operating properly before commencing.
• Use metal secondary containers no more than 6 inches deep for sterilizing liquids/solids/waste.
• Autoclavable plastic secondary containers are only appropriate for waste and solids that do not fit in metal secondary containers. Do not use non-autoclavable plastic – it may melt and cause damage!
• Check the stability of all items in the secondary container and make sure individual items are not touching.
• Load secondary container into autoclave with items, but do not allow bags to touch the sides/top of the autoclave.
• Close autoclave door securely.

Specific autoclave instructions:

Determine and start the appropriate cycle to use.

Sterilizing Solids

ID:

Temp:

Duration:

Sterilizing Liquids

ID:

Temp:

Duration:

Note: We do not routinely autoclave our hazardous waste!

*Please see Medical Waste Management - “On or Off‐Site Research (BSL1 ‐ BSL2) / Teaching Laboratories (BSL1 ‐ BSL2)” for specific requirements regarding autoclaving waste for 45 min.

• Do not leave until the autoclave has gone past the purge phase to ensure that no steam is escaping.
• If steam escapes through the door, attempt to safely and properly tighten the already closed autoclave door.
• If steam continues to leak or if there are any alarms or run errors displayed, abort the cycle.

•

• Never attempt to open an autoclave during operation!
• Complete the “Autoclave Log” fully with all required information for every run.

• Verify desired temperature and duration of exposure has been met, and no errors have occurred.
• This can be done in the following manner: Identifying errors on the LCD display
• If an error has occurred, determine if maintenance assistance from E&O is needed. Your items will need to be re-autoclaved so a full cycle can be completed.
• Wait until the chamber pressure gauge reads zero and the autoclave indicates “cycle complete” before opening.
• Open the autoclave door 1 inch to allow steam to escape.
• Wait 10 min for the steam to be released from the autoclave chamber. CAUTION: Contents remain hot!
• Place a cart near the autoclave door.
• Place the secondary tray from the autoclave onto your cart and allow items to cool before transporting them.

Training is to be conducted by: Ryan Boileau, ryan.boileau@duke.edu, 5036790739

In case of any issues with the autoclave, please contact: Ryan Boileau, ryan.boileau@duke.edu, 5036790739

For maintenance issues, contact E&O: (919) 684-3232