Chlorine Dioxide (CD) Decontamination is a process used to sterilize biological safety cabinets and other laboratory equipment. It involves the use of CD gas, which is a powerful decontaminant effective against a wide range of biological hazards, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
The process includes preparing the equipment, performing a test run, loading the chemicals, running the decontamination cycle, and ensuring thorough scrubbing and completion. This method ensures that all surfaces within the equipment are exposed to the decontaminant, ensuring a safe and sterile environment for critical research and production activities.
Safety is paramount during CD Decontamination. Key safety measures include:
• Adhering to customer-specific safety procedures and wearing proper safety attire.
• Performing a risk assessment before beginning any work to identify and mitigate hazards.
• Using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as full-face respirators, especially within the decontamination zone.
• Setting up a negative pressure secondary containment system to prevent gas leakage and protect personnel.
• Posting appropriate warning signs and maintaining a restricted area around the decontamination site until it is deemed safe
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The CD Decontamination process is suitable for a variety of laboratory equipment, including Class I and Class II biological safety cabinets (types A1, A2, B1, and B2), negative/positive pressure isolators, animal devices, incubators, refrigerators, freezers, and exhaust HEPA filter banks. The system can handle typical volumes up to 90 cubic feet, ensuring comprehensive decontamination for various devices used in laboratory settings. Although Class III biological safety cabinets are not specifically addressed, they can also be decontaminated using the Mini-CD System (MCS).
The duration of the CD Decontamination process can vary depending on the size and type of equipment being decontaminated, as well as the specific conditions of the decontamination site. Typically, the process includes preparation, chemical loading, decontamination, scrubbing cycles, and final verification to ensure all gases have dissipated. On average, the entire procedure can take several hours to complete, but precise timing will be determined by the specific requirements of each project.
Clients need to ensure that their equipment is adequately prepared for the CD Decontamination process. Key preparation steps include:
• Removing all items from the biological safety cabinet (BSC) that are not part of the decontamination process.
• Ensuring the BSC is generally clean, as dirt and debris can inhibit chlorine dioxide penetration.
• Stacking or positioning remaining items to allow proper circulation of humidity levels and decontamination gases.
• Identifying any equipment or items inside the BSC that need to be included in the decontamination.
• Assisting with the shutdown and startup of the BSC’s exhaust system if required.
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