Make sure lab items you want to sterilize are autoclavable.
| Autoclave-compatible |
Autoclave-incompatible |
| Tissue culture flasks |
Acids, bases, and organic solvents |
| Surgical instruments |
Chlorides, sulphates |
| Glassware |
Seawater |
| Pipette tips |
Chlorine, hypochlorite, bleach |
| Media solutions |
Non-stainless steel |
| Animal food and bedding |
Polystyrene (PS) |
| Waste |
Polyethylene (PE) |
| Polypropylene (secondary containers) |
Low density (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) |
| Stainless steel |
Polyurethane |
| Gloves |
— |
<aside>
🚨
Never autoclave:
- Flammable, reactive, corrosive, toxic, or radioactive materials
- Household bleach
- Any liquid in a sealed container
- Any material contained in such a manner that it touches the interior surfaces of the autoclave
- Paraffin-embedded tissue
</aside>
If you are not sure if something can be autoclaved, ask a fellow lab member.
Preparing items for autoclaving
Dry (empty) glassware
For empty, dry glass labware, autoclave-safe plastic labware, foil-wrapped items, or any other non-liquid item:
- Glass bottles with caps — washed, air-dried completely, capped with cap half-loosened, autoclave tape on top of lid.
- Plastic large centrifuge bottles with caps — washed, air-dried completely, capped with cap very loosely covering the opening and NOT tightened, autoclave tape on top of lid.
- Glass test tubes with caps — washed, air-dried completely, capped firmly, put in non-labeled rack, autoclave tape on front of rack.
- Plastic pipet reservoirs/basins — washed, air-dried completely, wrapped in heavy-duty aluminum foil with no exposed corners or edges, one piece of autoclave tape on the whole batch only.
- Chunking spatulas or other glass/metal utensils — washed, air-dried completely, wrapped in aluminum foil with no exposed corners or edges, one small piece of autoclave tape on each item.
- Glass or plastic containers with no lids (flasks, beakers, etc.) — washed, air-dried completely, covered in heavy-duty aluminum foil with no holes and aluminum hanging at least 1 inch over the edge of the opening, autoclave tape on top of the foil cover.
Foil-covered glassware prepared for autoclaving
Glassware containing liquids
For liquids in a container with a lid (bottles and tubes) or covered with aluminum foil (glass flasks and beakers):
- Glass bottles with caps containing liquid media, water, or buffers — liquid filled no more than the container fill-line, capped with cap slightly loosened one turn to prevent loss, autoclave tape on top of lid.
- Glass bottles with caps containing liquid media with agar — liquid filled no more than HALF-VOLUME of the container, capped with cap slightly loosened one turn to prevent loss, autoclave tape on top of lid.
- Glass test tubes with caps containing liquid media, liquid media with agar, water, or buffers — liquid filled no more than 2/3 full, capped firmly, put in labeled rack, autoclave tape on front of the rack.
- Glass or plastic containers with NO LIDS containing liquid media, liquid media with agar, water or buffers (flasks, beakers, pitchers, etc.) — liquid filled no more than HALF-VOLUME of the container, covered in heavy-duty aluminum foil with no holes and aluminum hanging at least 1 inch over the edge of the opening, autoclave tape on the side of the foil cover overlapping on the glass to secure the foil.