Water Environment Federation (WEF) Discussion Forums / WEF Discussion Forums / Laboratory Management & Technical Issues / Autoclave calibration / Latest Posts

RE: Autoclave calibration

Sabir — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:58:57 GMT

Following brands are available.

Fisherbrand* Autoclave Thermometer (maximum registering)

Catalog number 15-114-10

VWR* Autoclave Thermometers

Catalog number 61222-520

Unfortunately these all are Mercury filled and I do not know if these will be allowed in your area. Our labs have similar of ERTCO brand purchased from Cole Parmer years ago but now as per cole parmer web note," as of July 1st 2008, an Illinois State statue prohibits Cole-Parmer in selling and shipping mercury containing devices worldwide".

NIST calibrated thermometer or NIST traceable thermometers are equally acceptable, it means that any ISO 17025 accredited calibration lab or state approved lab for calibration having NIST traceability for temperature calibration can calibrate your thermometer. You can buy two thermometers keep one as a reference (NIST traceable) and use second in daily monitoring.

RE: Autoclave calibration

Victor — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:50:33 GMT

I am posting a temperature log sheet that is used for one of our incubators as an example of actual temperature reading and corrected temperature from a certified thermometer. By the way, if the difference between your daily thermometer and the certified thermometer is >1°C then you need to replace your daily thermometer.

RE: Autoclave calibration

Victor — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:11:25 GMT

MLMiller:

I don't think I've run across an NIST certified maximum registering thermomether--I might be wrong since I have not looked for one. What our lab does is to purchase NIST certified thermometers for specific temperature ranges--these thermometers have to be recertified each year by a company. The thermometers that you use on a daily basis (such as dry oven 180°C, incubators 35.0°C, water bath 45.5°C) are compared with the certified thermometer and any deviations from the certified thermometer are noted on the temperature log sheet. Take for example, the thermometer used on a daily basis in our fecal water bath was reading 44.6°C while the certified thermometer was reading 44.5°C. The thermometer that is used on a daily basis was off by 0.1°. So to reflect this difference we subtract 0.1°C from the daily thermometer reading. This is done every 6 months--it is only required on an annual basis. For an autoclave maximum registering thermometer, the comparison has to be done at around 121°C. Unless you can somehow get a certified thermometer that has 121°C within its temperature range and be able to submerge both thermometers into a liquid at this temperature and be able to visually inspect the reading then it will work. Or you can have a company that can do this for you--which is what we do. They certify our maximum registering thermometer. The company that comes in an calibrates/services/certifies your balances may be able to this for you. Do take into consideration that certified thermometers are not cheap--Fisher, VWR sell them. Hope this answers your question.

RE: Autoclave calibration

MLMiller — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:22:49 GMT

Can you suggest some suppliers of NIST certifiable maximum registering autoclave thermometers? Thank you.

RE: Autoclave calibration

Victor — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:38:20 GMT

Tony:

The recording thermometer addition to the autoclave is a plus in more ways than one. First, it provides a paper copy of not only temperature reading but it provides a graphical representation of cycle duration. Secondly, I can write on the graph the specific item that was autoclaved (media, glassware, dirty used tubes), time and date of autoclave episode. Lastly, I do have my certified thermometers calibrated against a NIST thermometer once a year and this includes the maximum registering thermometer which I stick in the autoclave when making each batch of media. You know how ELAP inspectors like graphs.

RE: Autoclave calibration

tpirondini — Thu, 22 May 2008 13:09:59 GMT

Victor - Thank you for the information on the recording thermometer. How is it working for you? Does it need to be calibrated, too?

RE: Autoclave calibration

Victor — Sun, 11 May 2008 10:11:26 GMT

Mark:

Market Forge sells a continuous temperature recorder for the SterilMatic part no. 95-2606 (120 V). I installed one for the autoclave here in the micro lab after ELAP recommended one. You can view Market Forge's Price List PDF on this particular autoclave:

http://www.mfii.com/products/healthcare/sterilimatic/sellsheet/PDF/s3220.pdf

RE: Autoclave calibration

wodamark — Sat, 10 May 2008 06:50:53 GMT

Thanks for the info on maximum temp thermometers. We have been using them all along.

The need is for the ability to measure the temp of an autoclave run so as to ensure that the required minimum temp is maintained during it. Std Methods wants the max/min recorded once a week.

RE: Autoclave calibration

Sabir — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:17:40 GMT

I agree with David. Find the further details on this link;

http://hbinstrument.thomasnet.com/viewitems/thermometers-special-application/autoclave-thermometer?&plpver=10&forward=1#

RE: Autoclave calibration

dsmith — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:11:07 GMT

Get a shakedown maximum temperature thermometer. It will stay at the highest temperature acheived until shaken down.

RE: Autoclave calibration

wodamark — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:31:57 GMT

What device (make/model) do folks use to comply with SM 9020 B 3 h for recording the maximum/minimum temperature of the autoclave.

By the way we have two Market Forge Sterilmatics that are old but still work like champs

RE: Autoclave calibration

Sabir — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 11:44:43 GMT

Dear Old Iaq

If your assessor wants to see the calibration certificate or calibration by third party, they actually means it and probably it will be difficult to negotiate down them to rather a simple solution (although in most of the cases and for most of the assessors it is acceptable) of using a maximum autoclave thermometers. Be ready for the “trouble” during assessment or closing an NCR. First let me explain what actually assessor wants to know and see in case of an autoclave.

· Autoclave is the main microbiology laboratory equipment and reliability in sterility at right temperature and for a right period of time is the key for reliable results; because this either lead to incomplete sterilization or overheating that may affect the performance of media or other items.

· Calibration is required for time and heat or pressure. Timer verification can be achieved with a calibrated clock or comparison with national speaking clock. You can perform this annually or after each modification or repair and keep the record. As pressure and temperature only one is enough for calibration because both correlates with each other; if one changes other will also change in proportionality. I (and most of the assessors) will prefer to have a calibrated temperature device, autoclave fitted thermocouple or externally used calibrated maximum registering thermometer traceable to NIST to record the temperature for each run.

· But when assessors says they want to see the calibration certificate; most of the laboratories consider they want to see calibration record of thermometer/ thermocouple or pressure; but for calibration of autoclave it means little more. Calibration of autoclave actually includes; establishing its functional properties initially at the time of installation in the laboratory, e.g. heat distribution characteristics with respect to typical uses. This process must be repeated after significant repair or modification (e.g. replacement of thermo-regulator probe or programmer, loading arrangements, operating cycle) or when performance is questionable and after a repeated frequency let’s says two years. The sterilization/decontamination cycle must take account of the heating profile of the load. Clear operating instructions shall be available based on the heating profiles determined for typical uses and you should have records of these multipoint calibration studies. This is a job of expert but you may do your self; generate such data and develop particular instructions based on this study.

With the performance evaluation record as above, preventive maintenance record, performance evaluation and preventive maintenance schedules, use of calibrated thermometer (autoclave fitted or maximum registering) to keep the record of each run, use of chemical or preferably biological indicators with suitable frequency, I hope you will be able to satisfy any “hard” assessor.

I hope this helps

RE: Autoclave calibration

Old lag — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:36:15 GMT

Thanks Jack -- that's what we have decided to do.

RE: Autoclave calibration

jackb — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:23:26 GMT

Our auditors (FDA, EPA) accept the use of a traceable maximum registering thermometer as proof of acceptable performance of our autoclaves.

Jack

RE: Autoclave calibration

Ducky0219 — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:10:45 GMT

You might try Certified Balance and Scale. Not sure if they perform autoclave calibration, but they do other types of calibrations (balance, thermometer, BOD meters...).

800.777.1198

Located in Sycamore, IL

Autoclave calibration

Old lag — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:00:10 GMT

As part of our ISO17025 requirements, our auditor wants us to calibrate our autoclaves annually. The calibrating company has to have certified pressure and temperature measuring equipment. Does anyone know of anyone who can run these tests? Preferably Midwest. All the ones we have talked to have measurement equipment but it is not traceable to NIST or some recognized standard.