I am going to be handling 180 agar plates for well diffusion assay and all of them will be labelled with permanent marker. The labels help me keep track of what species of bacteria is inoculated, which isolate, what type of extracts etc.
I understand that disinfection of all apparatus using 70% ethanol is required before placing them in the laminar flow cabinet. However, the ethanol will remove the labelling and I rather not have them removed in the first place to avoid mislabelling them. I am typically not experienced with lab work so any suggestions on what to do about this will be much appreciated.
One of the challenges of disinfecting laboratory glass wares is to avoid removing the marker labelling that identifies the contents or the owner of the glass wares. Here are some steps that can help you disinfect your glass wares without damaging the marker labelling:
- Scrape away any thick solid material from the glass if possible. Wipe away any grease from the glass joints with a solvent like acetone which can help remove the grease.
- Put the glass wares in a warm cleaning solution of detergent and water. Use a brush or cleaning pad to clean any residue or contamination. Avoid using abrasive materials that can scratch the glass or the marker labelling.
- Rinse the glass wares thoroughly with tap water and then with distilled water. Make sure there is no detergent residue left on the glass wares.
- Dry the glass wares with a clean cloth or air dry them in a rack. Do not use heat to dry the glass wares as it can cause thermal stress and cracking.
- To disinfect the glass wares, you can use one of the following methods:
- Autoclaving: This is a method of using high-pressure steam to sterilize the glass wares. It is effective against most microorganisms and spores. However, it can damage some types of glass wares, such as those made of borosilicate or soda-lime glass, or those with rubber or plastic parts. It can also fade or erase some types of marker labelling, such as permanent markers or labels. Therefore, you should check the compatibility of your glass wares and marker labelling before autoclaving them.
- Chemical disinfection: This is a method of using a chemical agent, such as alcohol, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide, to disinfect glass wares. It is less effective than autoclaving, but it can be used for glass wares that cannot withstand high temperatures or pressures. However, it can also damage some types of glass wares, such as those made of acrylic or polycarbonate, or those with metal parts. It can also affect some types of marker labelling, such as inkjet or laser labels. Therefore, you should check the compatibility of your glass wares and marker labelling before using chemical disinfection.
- UV irradiation: This is a method of using ultraviolet light to disinfect glass wares. It is effective against most microorganisms and spores, but it has limited penetration power and requires direct exposure to the UV source. It does not damage most types of glass wares or marker labelling, but it can cause eye and skin irritation if not handled properly. Therefore, you should wear protective equipment and follow safety precautions when using UV irradiation.
These are some of the ways to disinfect your laboratory glass wares without removing the marker labelling. You should always follow the manufacturer's instructions and your laboratory's protocols when cleaning and disinfecting your glass wares. You should also label your glass wares clearly and accurately to avoid confusion and contamination.
My advise is to wipe down a marker pen with ethanol/disinfectant and put that in the laminar flow hood. You can then rewrite the labels once the ethanol has evaporated. Alternatively just use a permanent marker pen brand that is not ethanol soluble.
I have just started my labwork. We are using markers to write on masking tape (or steam tape) to label, if anyone needs to know! Thank you for those who helped :)
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