Nov 06 2020 Read 1507 Times Author: Gareth West on behalf of Astell Scientific Ltd Free to read Unlock The sterilisation of microbial life and biological material is a prerequisite of both experimental and environmental control in laboratories across myriad disciplines. Whether ensuring aseptic conditions in a culture plate or maintaining an area of biocontainment, sterilisation’s goal is always the eradication of unwanted biological agents. This aim can be reached through a variety of procedural pathways, each with their own benefits and shortcomings. The ideal sterilisation process needs to work quickly and effectively; deactivating microbiology and unwanted biological material such as prions. It should also ensure the minimal toxicity, health risks to operators, and change to sterilised objects, while providing maximum adaptability - accommodating different materials. The procedure should also be able to overcome any physical resistance to sterilisation that is demonstrated by the materials being sterilised. All of this should ideally be achieved in a cost-efficient way, which also allows for consistent monitoring [1, 2].