Sterilization and aseptic technique

Why aseptic technique matters

Tissue culture workflows depend on controlling contamination throughout media preparation, explant handling, transfers, and culture maintenance. Small differences in preparation or handling can make it difficult to understand why one batch behaves differently from another. Documenting your lab’s aseptic procedures as SOPs gives the team a consistent reference and creates useful context when reviewing contamination records later.

Autoclave sterilization

Autoclaves are commonly used in tissue culture workflows to sterilize media, glassware, tools, and other heat-stable materials. Document your lab’s validated autoclave procedure as an SOP so operators can reference the appropriate cycle, preparation requirements, and handling notes for your equipment and workflow. What to document:

1. 1
   Materials or equipment being sterilized
2. 2
   Autoclave or equipment used
3. 3
   Lab-approved cycle or settings
4. 4
   Preparation and handling requirements
5. 5
   Relevant safety notes
6. 6
   Deviations or observations

Explant surface sterilization

Surface sterilization procedures vary by plant material, species, tissue type, and lab conditions. Document the procedure your lab uses for each type of explant so sterilization methods can be referenced consistently and compared with later culture observations. What to document:

1. 1
   Plant or explant material
2. 2
   Sterilization method
3. 3
   Procedure steps and timing
4. 4
   Materials or solutions used
5. 5
   Variations from the standard SOP
6. 6
   Observations after culture initiation

Aseptic transfer setup

Before a tissue culture transfer session, follow your lab’s established procedure for preparing the workspace, tools, materials, and culture vessels. If your lab uses a laminar flow hood or another controlled workspace, document its setup according to the equipment manufacturer and your lab’s requirements. A transfer setup SOP might include:

1. 1
   Workspace preparation
2. 2
   Equipment checks
3. 3
   Tool preparation
4. 4
   Placement of cultures and materials
5. 5
   Handling practices during transfers
6. 6
   Cleanup and end-of-session steps

Turn your sterilization procedures into xPlant SOPs

Sterilization and aseptic technique usually involve several separate procedures. Keeping media sterilization, explant surface sterilization, and transfer setup as separate SOPs makes each workflow easier to maintain, reference, and update. Start with the procedures your lab already follows, then document the steps, equipment, timing, notes, and relevant variations in xPlant.

• →Autoclave sterilization. Document your lab’s established process for sterilizing media, vessels, and other heat-stable materials.
• →Explant surface sterilization. Capture the procedure used for specific plant material and preserve species- or tissue-specific variations.
• →Aseptic transfer setup. Create a reusable procedure for preparing the workspace before tissue culture transfers.