Dishwashing and sterilization facility

The dishwashing and sterilization facility in Biomedicum is located in C0233 and C0266. The facility handles all plastic- and glassware in Biomedicum, as well as sterile MilliQ and distribution of lab coats.

Clean labware, MilliQ flasks, and clean lab coats are found in the glassware room on each floor and are available for all at Biomedicum. All labware in the glassware room is sterilized either by autoclavation or by dry sterilization.  

1. Dishwashing

1.1 Non-contaminated Labware

  • Rinse the labware (no chemicals may remain when placed for dishwashing) and remove all tape and markings from the used labware. 
  • Place the used lab glass- and plasticware in the recycling room in your quarter. FM collect used labware from the quarters on a daily basis. 
  • If you have group-specific lab glassware, place it in a container marked with your name, floor, and quarter. This will ensure that you will receive the same glassware back. 

1.2 Contaminated Labware  

Materials or glassware with infectious or biological materials must be sent for autoclaving before dishwashing. 

  • Place the contaminated labware with lid off in an autoclave bag in the lab and seal with autoclave tape. Place the autoclave bag in the red container in the recycling room. 

2. Autoclavation

(E.g., pipette tips, tubes, tools and solutions) 

Items to be autoclaved is collected Monday – Friday 11:00 in the glassware room on each floor.  

  • Label the items you wish to have autoclaved with your name, floor, and quarter. Put on autoclave tape and use an autoclave bag when needed. Put the items in the designated place in the glass ware room. 
  • Collect the autoclaved items from the designated place in the glassware room. Goods are generally ready to be collected the same day.  
  • Larger items to be autoclaved, eg interior parts of biosafety cabinets, should be brought to the dishwashing and sterilization facility. Mark the items with name and quarter.  

N.B. that for liquid autoclavation only cultivation-media (also with agar), water, and salt buffers (e.g. PBS) can be autoclaved. Prepare your media the same day to avoid bacterial growth before autoclavation.  

Infectious waste is mainly sent for destruction in yellow boxes, read more on the routine for hazardous waste here. If you need to autoclave infectious waste, contact FM Helpdesk to get an introduction on how to prepare your waste before autoclaving. 

2.1 Standard Autoclave Programs 

Liquids

121°C, 20 min sterilization 

Solids 

121°C, 20 min sterilization 

 Autoclave compatible materials: 

  • Items for sterilization (glassware, media, equipment, water) 
  • Polypropylene (PP) and Polycarbonate (PC) plastics 
  • Borosilicate glass 
  • Stainless steel
  • Infectious cultures, may contain antibiotics. Contact FM Helpdesk if you have waste from cell-cultures that need to be autoclaved.

2.2 Lab coats to be Autoclaved 

If you need clean and autoclaved lab coats, send a ticket via FM Helpdesk to order autoclaved lab coats. 

If you have a contaminated lab coat that needs to be autoclaved (decontaminated) prior to being washed; 

  1. Place the lab coat in an autoclave bag 
  2. Place the bag in the recycling room in your quarter in the red container for contaminated goods. 
  3. Clean lab coats will be placed in the room for clean lab glassware on floor 4-9. 

Contact 

To get in contact with the dishwashing and sterilization facility, please send a ticket to FM helpdesk.  

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Hina Mohsin

Technical Assistant

Monica Riveros

Technical Assistant
JS
Content reviewer:
21-12-2023