Glassware washing procedures

Basically, the glassware washing procedure is divided into two phases the laboratory phase, which consists of preparations by research workers for decontamination by rinsing or soaking, and the glassware washing room phase, which completes the process. Communication is important between the laboratory worker and the glassware washer worker... 

Fig. 2. Simple glassware washer. The diagram shows a simple spinning-brush washing attachment (Southern Cross), which facilitates routine washing procedures. Other brushes are also supplied for variously shaped glassware.

Type III water may be used for glassware washing. (Final rinsing, however, should be done with the water grade suitable for the intended glassware use). It may also be used for certain qualitative procedures, such as those used in general urinalysis. 

For all procedures after hybridization, we use separate glassware and graded ethanol solutions from those used prior to hybridization, because RNase A is used during the washing procedures and could contaminate aU glassware and... 

Tables 8.1 to 8.5 describe detailed washing procedures for various kinds of glassware that the author developed over a six-year period for a large organization performing research in viral oncology and cell and molecular biology. These procedures can be adapted for use in specialized laboratories that utilize other types of specialized glassware, such as fermentation vessels and Fembach flasks. Table 8.6 summarizes the steps needed in a typical glassware washing facility of a biomedical laboratory.

The water used in all solutions and to wash and rinse the glassware should be of the highest purity possible. Sterile deionized glass-distilled water is recommended for all procedures. 

Note All glassware used in the above procedure was washed sequentially in soap solution, water, and acetone. The glassware was dried in an electric oven (at 120 °C) for at least 3 h. 

A similar procedure based on a dilution of milk sample and SPE was presented for CEF residues. The authors reported that the contamination of CEF was avoided by sequentially washing the glassware with 1 M hydrochloric acid, water, and MeOH. The stability of the sample extract was studied, and a significant decrease in recovery was noted if samples were kept longer than 24 hours. In comparison to the previous procedure, a higher recovery was obtained (92% with CV 3.9%) (58). Both procedures were tested for possible interference of other drugs that may be found in raw milk. None of these compounds interfered with the analytes (57,58). 

Smaller glassware may be washed by standard procedures in the central dishwasher and afterwards cleaned in an oxygen plasma asher for 60 minutes at 100 W (Clausen et al., 2004) or by high temperature (500 °C) in an oven (Nielsen, Clausen... 

Le Bel and Williams [521,522] found that low procedural blank values, equivalent to 0.05ng L 1 for a 200L potable water sample were attainable only by using doubly distilled solvents and by exhaustive washing of all reagents and glassware with these solvents. 

Washing and sterilizing glassware using proper procedures. 

Caution Carry out all procedures in a well-ventilated hood, and wear disposable vinyl or latex gloves and chemical-resistant safety goggles. Potassium cyanide is extremely dangerous. Cyanide residues, as well as glassware which has been in contact with cyanide, should be washed with a sodium hypochlorite solution. 

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