The type of cleaning performed depends on the frequency of system use and the perfusate composition.  The following guidelines should assist you in assuring a clean system for each use.

• At a minimum the system should be flushed with hot distilled water (1-3 liters depending on buffer reservoir size).
  • Be certain to close the connection between all pressure transducers and the flow circuit before performing any cleaning or flushing procedure.
  • The thermocirculator should be set at 50 - 55 degrees C and a flow rate selected to flush the system for one hour (volume of distilled water in ml/60 minutes = flow rate in ml/min). This promotes the dissolution of salts from the perfusate deposited in the system perfusion circuit.
  • If the system also contains a membrane resistor (used for setting the perfusion pressure limit) this portion of the circuit should be flushed as well. Stopping the flow through the perfusion outlet with either the integrated stopcock (if present, e.g. isolated heart systems) or a closed stopcock placed on the system outflow will create backflow through the resistor and allow the it to be flushed.
• Flushing the system with Mucosol or similar acrylate compatible detergent-based cleaning solution.
  • Due to the presence of acrylate parts, most of the perfusion circuit cannot be sterilized. However, it can be cleaned with an approved cleaning solution compatible with acrylate such as Mucosol (see ordering information below.
  • If the perfusate contains protein (e.g. albumin or enzymes) you should also consider flushing the circuit first with diluted Mucosol (follow the manufacturers directions) then with hot distilled water.
  • The volume of Mucosol used should be in the range of 1-3 L depending on buffer reservoir size. The distilled water can be left overnight in the perfusion circuit and flushed out with fresh distilled water the following morning.
  • Systems used with recirculating perfusion should also consider frequent use of Mucosol.
  • Weekly or bi-weekly cleaning of the perfusion system with Mucosol should be performed depending on the frequency of system use. A good rule of thumb would be to perform a Mucosol cleaning with every 5-10 system uses.

Mucosol - Manufactured and sold by:

BrandTech Scientific

25 Middelsex Turnpike

Essex, CT 06426-1479

PH (860) 767-2562

FX (860) 767-2563

info@brandtech.com

http://www.brandtech.com