Autoclave Facility

Do not touch any of the machines. If you need help loading or unloading something please email Erika Branagh at erika.branagh@ucalgary.ca

Make note of the first aid kit, spill kit, eye wash, shower, fire extinguishers, fire alarms and defibrillators as well as where the muster point is located (by the cinnamon bun place).
This is a safety class 2 facility, so those lab rules apply.

Must be brought down before 11am M-F
Must have 3 pieces of information on the bag on tags provided
- PI name
- Lab room number
- Lab phone number
Logbook on computer must be filled in
Put it on a tray, extras on the shelf
Autoclave safe bags only
Do not overfill
Tape bags closed but not too tight to allow air to escape
Remove any dangerous material from autoclave bags. If it is labelled as dangerous but does not contain dangerous material, please deface label
No Radioactive material
No chlorine treated material

Liquids are placed on the black shelf in the proper categories – make sure that the caps are loose
Dry goods in the metal trays – do not take trays or anything from the prep room back to your lab
Fill in the logbook on computer – must be done even if outside of Erika’s hours
If you have a lot of material, it can be left on a cart
Use appropriate glassware and plastic including appropriate bus pans
Make sure you label it, so you get it back
Pick up is on the back shelf in a timely manner
If you are unloading the autoclave, please unload all the material including other people’s material
It will be hot – please be careful
You can stack material within the autoclave, just be careful
The standard parameters for liquid cycles are 121oC for 20 min. to sterilize most organisms (depending on volume). Other parameters can be used on request.
Liquid cycle has a slow pressure release – so liquids should only go in the liquid cycle·
Dry cycle has a quick vacuum cycle at the end to remove water and help material dry

Please rinse and remove any tape labels in your lab before you bring stuff down to be washed. Place items to be washed on shelf that is at the far back of the prep room by the doors.
Erika will wash your dishes. Make sure that the container/cart you bring your dishes on is labelled with your lab information. Clean items will be placed on the back bench along the wall for pick up.
Small Autoclave on the left is available for after hours use (4pm onwards or on the weekends) or if Erika is absent.
Please do not run it partially filled. This is a shared facility, add other lab’s autoclaving and make sure that you clear it all to the backbench along the wall.
The second small autoclave, large autoclave and dishwashers are reserved for Erika only. If you need something out of one of these machines and Erika is not in the room, please email: erika.branagh@ucalgary.ca and she will come empty items for you.
Do no force the doors open on any of the machines!

This room is a shared self-run space for autoclaving media and equipment. Waste must be autoclaved in the prep room BI 111.
There are 3 reserved times for running the autoclave 10am 12pm and 2pm
Plan your experiments to either make use of the autoclave at these times or plan for outside of these times.
Bring your stuff to be autoclaved and put it on the top shelf of the autoclave cart. Someone will start the autoclave at those specific times. If you need your stuff autoclaved come back at the scheduled time and start the machine yourself.
The person who starts the machine should fill in the logbook. Please put in all the appropriate info and if there is any trouble with the machine put that info in as well.
Generally, a liquid cycle is done. Unless there is only dry stuff to be autoclaved.
If you want a specific dry cycle, run it outside of the scheduled times.
When loading load all the stuff! Not just yours. Also unload all the stuff when it is done. A liquid cycle goes for ~ 1hr to 1hr & 15min. Unload to the marble table on the left of the autoclave. If the table is full, unload to the counter by the door.
This is a self-use room so if you need oven gloves you will have to bring them yourself. The department does not police this room.

If there are problems with the machine, contact Erika (erika.branagh@ucalgary.ca). If the door sticks do not force it.

Contact for Autoclave Training