Autoclave as an Instrument for Biosafety in TB Laboratory

Autoclaves are key biosafety equipment in tuberculosis (TB) laboratories.

It allows decontamination of used instruments and articles and makes it safe for reuse (or discarding).

Autoclaves kill all pathogens on the articles which will be added to it for sterilization. Hence the articles autoclaved will be sterile (no biohazard pathogens on them).

Principle of Procedure

• Autoclave works on the principle of Boyle’s law. This law states that within the fixed volume, pressure is directly proportional to temperature
• The autoclave is a sealing chamber that can contain steam at more than 1.06 kg/cm2 (15 lb/in2). At this pressure, steam is most saturated, and the temperature is 121°C
• Two factors are essential for the optimum function of an autoclave: 

1. All of the air in the chamber should be replaced by steam
2. The temperature must be 121°C

Diagrammatic View of Autoclave

Resources

• Tuberculosis Laboratory Biosafety Manual 2012 World Health Organization 6.3, page 36.

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