But is it sterile?

Today I went back to school! The class was entitled: Aseptic Techniques. In English that means "ways to keep things sterile." The reason I took the class was that when I offered to help with loading the rat food bars, I was told that this class is a requirement for that process. Did you know that there is a difference between something being sterile and its being clean? That is a very important distinction made in the class: Just because something is sterile, doesn't mean it's clean; and conversely, just because something is clean does not mean it's sterile. The goal of this class is to make workers aware so that they will keep germs away from things they are working on.

Here's some of the things I learned:

First, it was important to know how to put on sterile gloves. Did you know that sterile gloves come wrapped in paper, because bugs don't go through paper unless it gets wet? So, first you have to checked the package for water stains.

When you have carefully opened the inside wrapper, you can only touch the folded over cuff of the glove (since it's going to be next to your skin anyway) so that you don't contaminate the glove surface. We all got a chuckle in class because they had chosen an old pair to use for the demonstration, and the gloves fell apart!

Once the gloves are on, you need to be aware of where your hands are at all times. Even a quick touch to adjust your glasses can contaminate the surface of the glove, and it will need to be exchanged with a sterile glove. A solution suggested was to put 3 or 4 pairs of gloves on so if any glove becomes contaminated you can peel it off and expose a sterile one.

Where you work was the next consideration. Apparently three types of cabinets are used for work here and are not equally sterile so it was important to distinguish between them: 1. Biohazard hoods have sterile working surfaces and air which is vented out of the cabinet, 2. with Laminar hoods air flows into the working area through filters (making it free of particles or sterile) and out towards the operator, and 3. Chemical fume hoods simply suck room air in and filter the air going out. All three of these cabinets can be kept clean, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're all sterile.

When using one of those cabinets, only your hands are involved. Cleanrooms are areas you enter with your whole body. At Kennedy Space Center, there is such an area referred to as "behind the barrier." It is maintained as a sterile environment. Anyone entering the area must pass through a sterilization process including changing into sterile clothing (a bunny suit), hair including beards covered, shoes covered, gloves, etc. Some of the people in the class will be going to Kennedy to help there, and needed to know that process.

So, what does this have to do with rat food? Stay tuned, because this afternoon I got to "help" with the process of loading rat food. They used a biohazard hood for this process. I will write about that experience and show you pictures soon.