Cleaning Your Astec Laboratory
Equipment

As we look forward to opening the lab and treating patients again, it is a good time to perform a detailed cleaning of your laboratory equipment before they are restarted or resume use. Here are some steps to assist in the process. Please refer to your product manual for more information.

For benchtop incubators:

For benchtop incubators:

  1. If your incubator is not already turned off, please do so before proceeding. You may need notify your lab alarm monitor system of your intentions to avoid unnecessary phone calls due to alarm states for environment or power loss.
  2. Disassemble any interior components of your incubator that can be removed. This would include the chamber inserts, or trays, for holding dishes. Do not disassemble or remove the lid or lid assembly.
  3. Of the removed pieces and parts, anything that is autoclave safe can be autoclaved or they should be thoroughly washed and disinfected with an appropriate embryo safe cleaner.
  4. Each chamber will have two ports for airflow. Plug all internal chamber ports with provided caps or plugs. If you cannot locate your original plugs, use an appropriate alternative. All interior surfaces of the incubator should be washed and thoroughly dried before reassembly, don’t forget the interior and exterior of the lid.
  5. Re-assemble the incubator and install monitoring devices if you use them. Turn the incubator on give it plenty of time to stabilize. For a cold incubator, this will take about 2 hours. Do not be surprised if you hear the occasional alarm as the incubator is building temperature, simply silence the alarm. Patience in this initial startup is very important, do not rush the process.
  6. Once stable, perform your daily QC as normal with your test devices to verify accuracy of your environment. If errors are found outside of your normal operating parameters, your local Astec representative would be happy to assist in correcting the readings.
For drawer type incubators:

For drawer type incubators:

  1. If your incubator is not already turned off, please do so before proceeding. You may need notify your lab alarm monitor system of your intentions to avoid unnecessary phone calls due to alarm states for environment or power loss.
  2. Remove the handheld chamber or chambers from your incubator. The machined aluminum chamber can be separated from the outer housing and lid assembly. Do not disassemble the outer housing or remove the lid from the assembly. Some models may have separate water reservoirs which can also be removed.
  3. Of the removed pieces and parts, anything that is autoclave safe can be autoclaved or they should be thoroughly washed and disinfected with an appropriate embryo safe cleaner. The outer housing and lid assembly should be washed and thoroughly dried.
  4. Re-assemble the incubator and fill the humidity tray with water if applicable. Install thermometers or other monitoring devices. Turn the incubator on give it plenty of time to stabilize. For a cold incubator, this could take up to 3 hours. Do not be surprised if you hear the occasional alarm as the incubator is building temperature, simply silence the alarm. Patience in this initial startup is very important, do not rush the process.
  5. Once stable, perform your daily QC as normal with your test devices to verify accuracy of your environment. If errors are found outside of your normal operating parameters, your local Astec representative would be happy to assist in correcting the readings.
For box type incubators:

For box type incubators:

  1. If your incubator is not already turned off, please do so before proceeding. You may need notify your lab alarm monitor system of your intentions to avoid unnecessary phone calls due to alarm states for environment or power loss.
  2. Disassemble any interior components of your incubator that can be removed. This would include the shelving system and/or interior small doors if your incubator is equipped with them.
  3. Of the removed pieces and parts, anything that is autoclave safe can be autoclaved or they should be thoroughly washed and disinfected with an appropriate embryo safe cleaner.
  4. If your incubator has a sterilization feature, now would be the time to perform that process. Refer to your manual for the exact procedure and precautions.
  5. All interior surfaces of the incubator should be washed and thoroughly dried before reassembly. Pay careful attention to the interior chamber along the gasket.
  6. Re-assemble the incubator and fill the humidity tray with water if applicable. Install thermometers or other monitoring devices. Turn the incubator on give it plenty of time to stabilize. For a cold box incubator, this could take up to 12 hours. Do not be surprised if you hear the occasional alarm as the incubator is building temperature, simply silence the alarm. Patience in this initial startup is very important, do not rush the process.
  7. Once stable, perform your daily QC as normal with your test devices to verify accuracy of your environment. If errors are found outside of your normal operating parameters, your local Astec representative would be happy to assist in correcting the readings.
For Smart Station:

For Smart Station:

  1. If your Smart Station is not already turned off, please do so before proceeding. You may need notify your lab alarm monitor system of your intentions to avoid unnecessary phone calls due to alarm states for environment or power loss.
  2. Remove any items, tools or supplies that may have been placed in the chamber.
  3. Wipe and wash all interior and exterior surfaces with an appropriate embryo safe cleaner. Use caution when wiping the microscope with regards to the optical surfaces. Dirty lenses can be cleaned with an optical lens cleaner or 70% isopropyl alcohol. Be sure to ventilate the chamber if alcohol is used before returning the isolette to use.
  4. Reassemble the SS-250. Install monitoring devices, supplies, and accessories your lab may use for normal operation. Turn the power to the isolette on and allow the incubator to stabilize, this could take 30-45 minutes.
  5. Once stable, perform your daily QC as normal with your test devices to verify accuracy of your environment. If errors are found outside of your normal operating parameters, your local Astec representative would be happy to assist in correcting the readings.

Japanese precision and reliability - it is at the heart of everything Astec Bio does. Our laboratory instruments are engineered with customer-oriented features and are backed by an unrivaled global network of highly-trained service engineers, ensuring years of trouble-free service. All our equipment is designed and manufactured in our ISO 13485 certified manufacturing facility in Fukuoka, Japan.

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