Priorclave has renewed its contract with Biocote to use the company's powder coating technology in the manufacture of Priorclave's entire range of laboratory autoclaves.
The silver-based, Biocote coating technology incorporated into the exterior surfaces of the autoclaves aids the fight against cross-infection by inhibiting the growth of a wide range of micro-organisms, including bacteria such as E.coli, Pseudomonas and the MRSA bug within hospital, biochemical and pharmaceutical laboratory environments, as well as the food industry, research sectors and many others.
Since the launch of Biocote, the reduced risk of cross-infection and cross-contamination has been proven through many environmental studies across many disciplines, the most recent of which has been undertaken within the nursing home sector.
A refurbished care home in Leicester was kitted out with a bedroom and ensuite containing Biocote-protected products and compared to similar untreated products in another refitted bedroom and ensuite.
The combined average reduction in microbe levels was said to be 94.6 per cent less on the Biocote-treated surfaces.
This is similar to results seen at the trial conducted at the outpatients clinics within the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, where Biocote-treated surfaces demonstrated an overall average of 95.8 per cent reduction.
Together, both of these studies have been published in the Journal of Infection Prevention and the British Journal of Community Nursing.
In a busy working laboratory where the Priorclave surface will be touched by operatives handling organisms during normal shared use of the equipment is also likely to be an area where cross-contamination might be an issue.
Typical sterilisation applications cover media preparation, glassware and instruments, plus waste disposal.
All are critical in the maintenance of good hygiene practice and sterile working conditions.
In this arena, Priorclave has a range of autoclaves with the capacity to inhibit the growth of bacteria, both inside and outside.