Name: CANO, CLARIBELLE V.

Date:
Laboratory Schedule: Score:

Activity 3
Aseptic Technique

Differences between Autoclave and Hot Air Oven

Characteristics Autoclave Hot Air Oven

Temperature requirement
121 °C
A steam steriliser, also
known as an 'autoclave',
The commonly-used
uses saturated steam at 121–
temperatures and time that
132 °C. A typical standard for
hot air ovens need to sterilize
steam sterilisation is
materials is 170 degrees
achieved after 15 to 30
Celsius for 30 minutes, 160
minutes under a pressure of
degrees Celsius for 60
106 kPa (1 atm) once all
minutes, and 150 degrees
surfaces have reached a
Celsius for 150 minutes.
temperature of 121
°C (Block, 2000).

Duration of sterilization

Items that are sterilized in a

An autoclave is used
hot air oven include:
to sterilize surgical
 Glassware (like petri
equipment, laboratory
dishes, flasks, pipettes, and
instruments, pharmaceutical
test tubes)
items, and other materials. It
Materials to be sterilized  Powders (like starch, zinc
can sterilize solids, liquids,
oxide, and sulfadiazine)
hollows, and instruments of
 Materials that contain oils
various shapes and
 Metal equipment (like
sizes. Autoclaves vary in
scalpels, scissors, and
size, shape and functionality.
blades)

Define

a. Inoculum- The definition of an inoculum is a substance introduced into the body to

create or increase the body's resistance or immunity to a disease. A flu vaccine is an
example of an inoculum.

b. Packeting

c. Irradiation- Irradiation is the process by which an object is exposed to radiation. ... The
term irradiation usually excludes the exposure to non-ionizing radiation, such as infrared,
visible light, microwaves from cellular phones or electromagnetic waves emitted by radio
and TV receivers and power supplies.

d. Blanching- Blanching (scalding vegetables in boiling water or steam for a short time) is a
must for almost all vegetables to be frozen. It stops enzyme actions which can cause loss
of flavor, color and texture. Blanching cleanses the surface of dirt and organisms,
brightens the color and helps retard loss of vitamins.
Identify the activity/industry or sterilization/disinfection being applied in:

Activity/Industry Method being applied

Canning is a preservation method that
involves placing foods in jars or similar
containers and heating them to a temperature
that destroys micro-organisms that cause
food to spoil. During this heating process air
is driven out of the jar and as it cools a
a. Canning vacuum seal is formed. The three
scientifically tested and approved methods of
canning for home food preservation are
pressure canning, water bath canning, and
atmospheric steam canning. These methods
heat food in sealed jars until the food is hot
enough to destroy spoilage organisms.

b. Injection of drug

c. Sterilizing surgical instruments

d. Irradiation

e. Reverse osmosis with irradiation

f. Autoclaving

g. Blanching

Questions to Answer

a. Should all our foods be sterilized to keep us away from diseases caused by
microorganisms? Why?

Yes, because bacteria can spread anywhere in the kitchen. So it's important to wash your hands
and kitchen surfaces before and after making food. Bacteria can spread from one surface to
another without you knowing it. If the bacteria get into food, they can cause foodborne illnesses.
So food must be sterilize because food sterilization is the complete destruction or elimination of
all viable organisms in/on object being sterilized.

b. A room was found to be contaminated with microorganisms, suggest solutions on

how to decontaminate/sterilize the room.

One new way of battling these contaminants is air/room sterilization, with several
technology options available currently:

• STERIS Corporation offers advanced room sterilization with the VaproSure

Sterilizer, featuring Vaprox® Sterilant, when used as part of a room’s terminal
cleaning program. The VaproSure Sterilizer is a low-temperature dry vapor designed
to destroy a full spectrum of biological contaminants, including spores, bacteria,
viruses and fungi, leaving no residue and no lingering odor.

• The PlasmairT2006 with HEPA-MD technology from AirInSpace is a Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)-cleared mobile air decontamination unit which multi-year clinical
study data suggests can contribute to reducing the incidence of airborne aspergillosis
infection. The AirInSpace technology is designed to demonstrate up to 99.999
percent single-pass inactivation of airborne microorganisms.
 • Xenex Technologies, Inc. offers two portable xenon pulse UV sterilization devices
that produce brief pulse of intense UV light that penetrates the cell walls of viruses,
bacterium, fungi and mold to fuse the strands of DNA (creating thymine dimers),
resulting in cell death. The devices are portable, can be operated by one person with
minimal training and can sterilize the air and visible surfaces in a room in minutes.
These devices are able to kill bacterial spores at a distance of 2 meters from the lamp
in 8 minutes without the use of any chemicals.

• Advanced Vapor Technologies’ TANCS steam vapor disinfection system is

designed to disinfect surfaces colonized by the Acinetobacter baumannii, which can
cause a variety of diseases, ranging from pneumonia to serious blood or wound
infections.

Reference:
Boone S.A and Gerba CP. Significance of fomites in the spread of respiratory and enteric viral
disease. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 73(6),1687-96. 2007.