LTE Scientific offers a wide range of multi-purpose lab autoclaves for the research and general laboratory markets including university, research, healthcare, pharmaceutical, and the food and beverage markets. Our sterilizers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, either with rectangular or circular chambers and capacities ranging from 23 litres up to 1052 litres, with our Touchclave systems offering a bespoke option up to 10,000 litres.
Numerous options can be fitted to most LTE lab autoclaves to provide enhanced performance, efficiency and functionality, this coupled with our expert advice allows us to provide a solution to any requirement.
All our autoclaves/sterilizers are designed and manufactured here in the UK and as such comply with, and often exceed, the required standards to ensure all our products offer outstanding reliability, performance, longevity and value.
LTE has also partnered with a leading European loading equipment company to provide a complete sterilisation solution. Remeda, based in Sweden specialise in the design and manufacture of loading systems for autoclaves and washer disinfectors.
Remeda systems can be manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic in operation and offer the perfect solution to reducing or completely removing any manual handling of racks and trolleys. This reduces operator risk, creates a better work environment and fits in with the increase in legislation around manual handling. Remeda loading trolleys can be fitted onto LTE and other brands.
IS9001 | GAMP |
UKAS* ISO 17025, ISO 13485 | PD5500 |
BS2646 | Pressure Equipment Directive |
BS3970* | HSE Note PM73 |
BS6759 (safety valves) | EMC Directive 2004/108/EC |
97/42/EC | Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC |
HTM 01-01, HTM 01-06 | EN61010-1-2001 |
EN285* | EN55011 |
PM60* | EN61000-4 |
21CFR11* |
Those standards marked * may require the fitting of options or additional documentation/testing in order to comply.
Click on get started to use our autoclave building tool.
We find this works well arranged once every six months, with the annual visit providing support with the pressure vessel insurance inspection and we perform any load re-validations required.
Autoclaves being used more frequently, including on a 24-hour basis, would require up to four service visits per year.
Within the cycle itself, not completing to a pass cycle stage, two areas can be looked at. Firstly, have the autoclave cycle parameters been met? For example, an autoclave failing to pull the desired vacuum could indicate that the door seal needs replacing.
Secondly, the load itself needs to be looked at. A failed cycle and incomplete sterilisation occurs when contents are not exposed to the correct temperature for the required duration. Several factors can cause this in an autoclave: using the incorrect cycle for the contents being sterilised, incorrect loading of the chamber (overloading), or inadequate packaging of the load.
It is imperative that the loading of items is in accordance with the autoclave set-up and validation process carried out to UKAS/HTM of that load. Changes to the load may require re-validation to offer assurances against the effectiveness of the sterilisation process.
Changes to the load may require re-validation to ensure the effectiveness of the sterilisation process. If you are unsure about the changes made to a cycle; please get in touch with our service team for advice.
For more precise checks, UKAS/HTM qualified engineers like LTE’s service engineers can perform professional validation and calibration using specialised machines.
You can find our international distributors here or for UK autoclave sales please contact us directly on: 01457 876 221 or email info@lte-scientific.co.uk
A vacuum system from LTE provides two functions: pre- and post-vacuum. Pre-vacuum provides efficient air removal at the beginning of the cycle, ensuring that steam penetrates deep into the load and will
not be affected by trapped air pockets. Vacuum air removal is considerably faster than gravity systems.
Post-vacuum aids the cooling stage. A vacuum can be used to help dissipate heat from the load and in some cases can aid in the removal of some moisture from the load to help drying.
Stages of a typical waste discard laboratory cycle are:
The air ballast system maintains constant over-pressure in the chamber during cooling, preventing liquid volume loss and allowing for faster, safer cooling whilst also reducing overall cycle times.
This filters all non-condensable gases through a 0.2-micron filter prior to release and then returns liquids back to the chamber for sterilisation.
LTE can offer passthrough autoclaves with bio seal separation for safe working.