Freeze-drying of biohazardous products

While the emphasis in this chapter will be to consider hazards when freeze-drying pathogenic micro-organisms or their products, it is important to appreciate that the freeze-drier is an industrial machine and therefore subject to non-biological hazards which will influence safe operation as outlined in Table 10.1. 

Chatigny and Clinker compared common laboratory accidents and showed that exposure to a broken vial of lyophilised bacteria was particularly hazardous. While the precise magnitude of their assessment may be a matter for discussion there is no doubt that handling freeze-dried cultures of pathogens or toxins may constitute a significant hazard.  

The stages in the freeze-drying cycle may be conveniently divided into the following. 

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