LPA Laboratory Equipment: Hot Air Oven

Use of Hot Air Oven 

• For heating non-explosive substances and objects ​ 
• For dry heat sterilization  
• During DNA extraction step​; kills Mycobacterium tuberculosis and partially lyses the cells at 95^oC

​Installation of the Hot Air Oven (Figure 1)

• The installation site must be flat and horizontal, and be able to reliably bear the weight of the appliance. ​
• Sufficient air circulation in the vicinity of the appliance must be guaranteed at all times.
  • When installing, ensure that the distance between the wall and​ rear side of the appliance must be at least 15 cm. ​​​
  • The clearance from the ceiling must not be less than 20 cm, and the side clearance from walls or ​nearby appliances must not be less than 5 cm.​​

Figure 1: Clearance of the hot air oven to allow sufficient air circulation

Components of Hot Air Oven (Figure 2) 

• Insulated chamber surrounded by an outer case containing electric heaters 
• Fan 
• Shelves 
• Thermocouples 
• Temperature sensor 
• Door locking controls

Figure 2: Hot Air Oven Components 

General Instructions for Maintenance

• Always switch off the appliance before any maintenance activity​.
• Always record every maintenance activity performed​. 

​ 

Maintenance: ​ ​ 

• Monitor temperature​
• Immediately clean up with disinfectant​ if there is any spill
• Leave the rack in the oven​ 
• Lubricate the door hinges and door lock systems for proper operation

Annual Maintenance: ​ 

Performed by a qualified service technician: ​

• Check temperature system​​
• Temperature distribution​
• Noise level detection​
• Overall operation and alarm function

Resources

• Molecular Detection of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis by Line Probe Assay. 

Kindly provide your valuable feedback on the page to the link provided HERE