When an experiment is compromised and discarded due to contamination, the result is countless hours of lost work and unusable data. Innovations in sterilization that can save money, shorten turnaround times, and improve outcomes are leading many organizations to reevaluate and upgrade their current approaches to R&D sterilization.

However, justifying the acquisition of new laboratory sterilization equipment can present challenges for researchers. They must demonstrate that the new sterilization process meets their specific needs, represents an improvement over existing methods, and that the anticipated results justify the investment.

“Purchasing any new equipment is an investment in the future for both technical and financial goals. Organizations need to be confident they are making the best decision,” said Eric Eisenhut, Executive Vice President of NovaSterilis. 

“At NovaSterilis, we provide supercritical CO₂ sterilization solutions. The benefits of using supercritical CO₂ to sterilize biomaterials and experimental items are numerous. Supercritical CO₂ is compatible with liquids, gels, powders, and solids. Sensitive electronics, polymers, and other delicate laboratory materials may also be compatible. Unlike some sterilization methods, cycle times can be short and there are no dangerous residues left behind. Supercritical CO₂ is environmentally friendly since it is a carbon neutral process.”

Two main questions that need to be answered before purchasing any new laboratory equipment: Why do we need it, and will it work?

“We understand that our customers need to be confident that incorporating supercritical CO₂ sterilization into their lab is the correct choice,” said Eric. “That’s why NovaSterilis can provide material compatibility testing, optimization studies, and more so that customers have the specific insight needed to ensure they are making the right choice.”

How Compatibility Testing Helps You Discover the Best Sterilization Solution

Material compatibility testing begins to answer the question: “Will it work?”. This process is a careful evaluation of an organization’s materials or prototypes to ensure they are compatible with supercritical CO₂ sterilization. 

Compatibility testing assesses the impact of scCO₂ sterilization on the functional and structural properties of the material in question. This phase uncovers whether scCO₂ could be a viable long-term sterilization solution for the organization.  

The benefits of compatibility testing include: 

• Confirming that the chosen sterilization method will not damage the selected materials.
• Assessing components of a product or materials at various stages of production.

The material compatibility testing phase will reveal how a material responds to scCO₂ sterilization. If this initial test yields positive results, further testing will be required in order to create a specific set of run conditions ideal for the material. Utilizing NovaSterilis’ expertise and services to accomplish this feat will reduce the amount of work required once sterilization equipment is ultimately acquired. 

Tailoring Sterilization Parameters with Phase 2 Testing

After the initial material compatibility testing phase is complete, organizations will move into the optimization phase of testing. The purpose of this stage is to adjust sterilization parameters to meet the unique needs of the material being tested.

Optimization testing helps:

• Gain confidence that results obtained at NovaSterilis’ facility can be replicated when the organization implements equipment in their own lab.
• Reduces the time and effort an organization will need to spend refining run conditions.
• Confirm that investing in new equipment is financially sound.
• Avoid risks by identifying potential roadblocks, such as packaging or timing.

Finally, one of the biggest benefits of conducting both compatibility and optimization testing is that it ensures a smooth transition to internal processing with scCO₂.

“Seamless integration is a priority of every new equipment installation,” said Eric. “NovaSterilis’ solutions are designed to be compatible and adaptable, so the overall workflow is preserved or improved. Our benchtop sterilization equipment is a compact, efficient solution that dramatically contributes to your lab’s efficiency and innovation. Workspace is increasingly at a premium, timing is critical, and health/safety requirements have significant impact on equipment available within a lab. Benchtop sterilization equipment brings sterilization capabilities directly into the lab, which saves space and time associated with third-party sterilization providers.”

If you are interested in learning more about supercritical CO₂ sterilization and how it can improve the efficiency of your operation, contact NovaSterilis to schedule a consultation. Discover how a compatibility test and an optimization study can help streamline the decision-making when considering a new supercritical CO₂ sterilization equipment investment.