What you can and cannot autoclave
Mixing the wrong materials into an autoclave can ruin the load, damage the machine or injure someone. These are the general rules. Check with your safety office for anything unusual.
Generally suitable
- Borosilicate glassware and heat-safe containers.
- Culture media and aqueous solutions.
- Many stainless steel tools and instruments.
- Autoclavable plastics such as polypropylene, when labeled for it.
- Biohazard waste in autoclave bags, following your institution's procedure.
Keep out
- Flammable or volatile solvents and anything containing them.
- Bleach and strong oxidizers, which can produce harmful fumes and damage the chamber.
- Radioactive or chemically hazardous material, unless a specific protocol allows it.
- Plastics that melt, such as polystyrene and polyethylene in most cases.
- Sealed containers that can build up pressure.
Preparing liquids
Use heat-safe containers and fill them no more than about two thirds. Loosen or vent caps so pressure can escape. Use a slow or liquid cycle so the liquids do not boil over when the pressure drops.
Preparing waste bags
Leave bags open or vented, and put them in a secondary tray so any leak is caught. Do not overfill them, and add a little water if your procedure calls for it to help steam penetrate.
Preparing glassware and tools
Clean items first, because dirt can shield microbes. Wrap or bag items that need to stay sterile afterward, and use indicator tape on each package.
Unloading safely
Wait for the pressure to fall and for the door to be safe to open. Open it slowly and stand back, since hot steam can escape. Wear heat-resistant gloves and eye protection, and let liquids cool before moving them.