SOP Title: Decontamination of Media, Cultures and Microbial Waste
- Objective:
To lay down the procedure for Decontamination of Media, Cultures and Microbial Waste.
- Scope:
This procedure is applicable for Decontamination of Media, Cultures and Microbial Waste in the
Microbiology Section of Quality Control Department.
- Responsibility:
3.1 Quality Control Department: To prepare and review the SOP. To follow the procedure for Decontamination of Media, Cultures and Microbial Waste as per this SOP.
- Quality Assurance Department: To review and approve the SOP and Annexure.
- Accountability:
Head Quality Control Department, Head Quality Assurance Department.
- Procedure:
| 5.1 | Safety Precautions/Instructions: | |
| 5.1.1 | Ensure that the appropriate protective equipment are used during handling of Autoclave. | |
| 5.1. 2 | For loading and unloading of autoclave, heat resistant gloves (asbestos free) should be used. | |
| 5.1.3 | To achieve adequate sterilization, avoid overloading the Autoclave. | |
| 5.1.4 | Check the water level before each cycle in the Autoclave. | |
| 5.1.5 | Do not open the Autoclave before the pressure on gauze shows zero. | |
| 5.2 | Procedure for Decontamination: | |
| 5.2.1 | Dehydrated media, Broth culture media, Agar media, routine microbiological waste are to be loaded in the Autoclave with self adhesive indicator tape. | |
| 5.2.2 | Unused dehydrated media quantity to be emptied in the containers and closed securely to prevent any spillage, once the expiry period is over. Before decontamination transfer dehydrated media to Autoclavable container or flask. | |
| 5.2.3 | All unused broth culture media are collected in Autoclavable container/flask. | |
| 5.2.4 | Unused Agar media contained in tubes or flasks shall be first heated over boiling water bath to melt the Agar and emptied in a Autoclavable container or flask. | |
| 5.2.5 | Microbiologically contaminated culture media e.g. petri dishes, tubes, containers used for microanalysis for plate count, Raw Materials testing, Finished Product testing and Environmental Monitoring, etc shall be transferred in a autoclavable containers and decontaminated in autoclave at 121° C and 15 psi for 30 minutes. | |
| 5.2.6 | These petriplates, tubes, containers marking shall be removed with acetone or methanol or 70% IPA. | |
| 5.2.7 | Transfer dehydrated media, broth and Microbiological waste in a autoclavable containers and decontaminated in autoclave at 121° C and 15 psi for 30 minutes. | |
| 5.2.8 | After decontamination pour the contents in Decontaminated Microbiological Waste container and transfer to authorised biomedical waste treatment facility for disposal. | |
| 5.2.9 | Empty containers, culture tubes, petriplates, flasks are immersed in a container containing 2.5% solution of dettol or savlon for 2 – 3 hours. | |
| 5.2.10 | Remove and clean the test tubes and flask with 1% v/v (1 ml in 100 ml) of commercially available liquid soap solution such as Teepol. | |
| 5.2.11 | Wash with tap water repeatedly several times and finally rinse with distilled water or purified water and dry at 60°C for 1 -2 hours. | |
| 5.3 | Assigning Autoclaving Load numbers: | |
| 5.3.1 | Enter the data in Autoclave Decontamination Record . The Load No. should be given as Follows. eg. DC/001/24.
i.e. DC for Decontamination, 001 is first load number for the year and 24 for the Year 2024. This sequence is carried out for one calendar year. |
|
| 5.4 | Cleaning: | |
| Frequency: Fortnightly | ||
| 5.4.1 | Switch OFF the autoclave. | |
| 5.4.2 | Disconnect the plug from Mains supply. | |
| 5.4.3 | Disinfect exterior surface of the Autoclave with 70 % IPA. | |
| 5.4.4 | Scrub the chamber using 5% v/v Teepol. | |
| 5.4.5 | Rinse the chamber thoroughly with water to remove all residual particles and detergent. | |
| 5.4.6 | Rinse finally with purified water. | |
| 5.4.7 | Wipe the outside of the autoclave with clean cloth. | |
| 5.5 | Preventive Maintenance: | |
| 5.5.1 | Perform the preventive maintenance as per Annexure. | |
| 5.5.2 | If preventive maintenance activity is outsourced, the observations are to be transcribed in the Annexure, and external party certificate to be attached. Frequency of Preventive maintenance is Quarterly. | |
- Definitions/Abbreviations:
- Definitions :
- Abbreviations :
| Abbreviation | Expansion |
| psi | per square inch |
| % | Percentage |
| IPA | Iso Propyl Alcohol |
| e.g. | example |
| v/v | Volume by volume |
| ml | milliliter |
| °C | Degree centigrade |
| No. | Number |
*Note – Ready to use SOP available in “DOWNLOAD” Section.