Thread: Washing vials and rubber stoppers - Enigma, thoughts?

Originally Posted by Enigma

Filters for my 6 foot unit cost $1100usd so you got a deal!

Originally Posted by Enigma

I used to have a big ass autoclave. I sold it because a local hospital paid me well for it and it was a PITA waiting for it to finish cycling. I started buying depyrogenated reams of vials. Then I switched to RFS vials and started using the oven bag/oven method. My first order of vials came in doubled autoclave bags. The exact same packs as the depyro’d. My old autoclave would have held 8 of the reams probably.
It was also pretty ridiculous to have that big autoclave in a home lab. Now that we are in a building with medical offices, there’s room for it AND I could have provided autoclave services for other tenants. Shit!
Live and learn. It’s been an enlightening process.

Autoclaving services....hmmm.... that’s an idea. I know folks are always buying “pre-sterilized vials”, however, I wonder if the vials are truly sterilized in some instances. I’m sure there are cases in which sellers of “pre-sterilized” vials just cap vials and call it “sterilized”. The average joe will probably not have any of the vials tested (if there is such a process).

just thinking out loud.

Originally Posted by JTH

Autoclaving services....hmmm.... that’s an idea. I know folks are always buying “pre-sterilized vials”, however, I wonder if the vials are truly sterilized in some instances. I’m sure there are cases in which sellers of “pre-sterilized” vials just cap vials and call it “sterilized”. The average joe will probably not have any of the vials tested (if there is such a process).

just thinking out loud.

Only way to know is if you sterilize them yourself.
As I've told you before, some UG-labs in some countries don't sterilize vials at all. I know this for a fact. I don't know much about how UG-labs run their businesses nowadays though.
When you get vials they are clean and packed so nothing will get in to them. They aren't sterile though.
When the vials are sterilized and sealed they aren't sterile forever. There are some rules/regulations of how long after they been sterilized they are considered sterile (talking about empty vials now). These regulations are probably just to stay on the safe side.

I've also mentioned this before but I'm doing it again. Rinsing your equipment, vials, rubber stoppers with alcohol only disinfectants them, alcohol doesn't sterilize them. This means that you have to sterilize you rubber-stoppers as well, not just give them an alcohol bath.

And, THX, every time I see your posts I chuckle because I worked in the building where they filmed THX1138 (and Gattaca) for many years. Also know quite a few people who work(ed) at Lucasfilms.

Originally Posted by Enigma

And, THX, every time I see your posts I chuckle because I worked in the building where they filmed THX1138 (and Gattaca) for many years. Also know quite a few people who work(ed) at Lucasfilms.

some have asked me what it means/where it's from, it's just a random thing I used as a nickname and kept it.

Wish I had a proper lab, nowadays a can't even find a reliable powder source...