STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Operation and Calibration Procedure for Centrifugal Air Sampler

	STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
	Department: Quality Control	SOP No.: QC/MB/xxx
Operation  and  Calibration  Procedure  for  Centrifugal Air Sampler		Effective Date:
		Review Date:
		Page No.: 1 of 4

1.0            OBJECTIVE:

1.1                   To lay down a procedure for operation and calibration of centrifugal air sampler.

2.0            SCOPE:

2.1                 This procedure is applicable to centrifugal air sampler used in microbiology laboratory.

ID. No.: Qc xxx

Make: Hi-media

3.0            RESPONSIBILITY:

3.1                 Microbiologist – Responsible for operating of air sampler.

3.2                 Section In charge - To review the procedure.

3.3                 QC Head – Responsible for implementing the procedure.

3.4                 QA Head – Overall compliance.

4.0            PROCEDURE:

4.1                 Operation:

4.1.1             Carry the air sampler to the sampling area.

4.1.2             Place the air sampler on the stand provided.

4.1.3             Open the stainless steel lid provided on the top of the air sampler and fix the media plate into the stainless steel cup holder.

4.1.4             Switch on the equipment.

4.1.5             Operate the equipment by manual method or by using remote controller.

4.1.6             Air Sampler is having the capacity of 30, 60 and 100 liters /minute.

4.1.7             Set the air sampler speed to 100 liters/minute and collect air for 10 minutes to get 1000liters.

4.1.8             Manual method of Operation:

4.1.8.1       Switch on the instrument and press ‘SET’ button then display will show ‘SPE’ which indicate speed of air sampler.

4.1.8.2       Select the speed of air sampler which is Low (30Liters/Minute), Medium (60liters/minute, high (100 liters/minute) by pressing the ‘↑’ button.

4.1.8.3       Press the ‘SET’ button, display will show the time in minutes.

4.1.8.4       SET the 600 seconds (10 minutes) to sample 1000 liters of air by pressing ‘↑’ button.

4.1.9             Remote Controller method of Operation:

4.1.9.1       Press ‘SET’ button on the remote controller.

4.1.9.2       Press ‘B1’ to select the digit of the required time and press ‘B2 to set required time.

4.1.10         After setting speed and time press ‘Start’ to start the equipment, and the equipment will automatically stop after the set time.

4.1.11         After completion open the lid and remove the media plate from the stainless steel cup holder and keep the plate in stainless steel petri plate carrier.

4.1.12         Collect the air sample from remaining sampling points as per the above procedure.

4.1.13         Sterilize the stainless steel lid with 70% IPA before collecting the sample at each and every point.

4.1.14         Use ‘STOP’ button in case of intermediate stop.

4.1.15         Switch “OFF” the instrument and keep in designated place when it is not in use.

4.1.16         Record the usage details in Annexure II “usage log sheet of centrifugal air sampler”.

4.1.17         Note: Clean the stainless steel petriplate cup holder with purified water, allow it to dry, wrap with aluminum foil and sterilize in Autoclave at 121°C for 15 minutes.

4.1.18         The conversion table for calculating the microbial growth is given in the Annexure I.

4.2                 Calibration:

4.2.1             The velocity of air and motor speed of the instrument shall be calibrated by external party once in a year ± one month or after any major maintenance work.

5.0            ABBREVIATIONS:

QC: Quality Control	QA: Quality Assurance
SOP: Standard Operating Procedure	IPA: Iso Propyl Alcohol
SCDA: Soyabean Casein Digest Agar	CFU: Colony Forming Unit