Hey
In daily basis bottles with (old) adhesive tapes come into DWA service unit. Even soaking the dishes for a long time does not help in removing the tapes, but tape must be scraped off with a metal spatula with help of solvents. It has been agreed with occupational health care and campus deans that, for occupational health reasons, the DWA technicians do not remove tapes from dishes, but the tapes are to be removed in the laboratories by the dish producers.
In addition, on the dishes the adhesive residue of tape is problematic in the dishwasher when the residue is removed during washing and is cycled to the surfaces of other dishes in the washing machine, leaving the dishes dirty.
The following are guidelines for labeling bottles so that they are easy to clean, both in the lab and in the DWA unit.
The first important thing is to use the correct tape to mark the bottles. DWA personnel have tested different types of tapes, which are suitable for laboratory use and do not leave adhesive marks on the bottles.
The best tape to make markings on bottles is Biltema blue, green or orange painter's tape. These tapes do not leave adhesive marks on the dishes. The tapes have been distributed to the labs with clean dishes returning the labs. Additional tape is always available when requesting the DWA service.
The indicator tape for hot air sterilization is also suitable for marking bottles. This is THE TAPE to be used on bottles going in autoclave.
Another way of marking is writing with a pen directly on the bottle. In such cases, the ink markings must be removed in the laboratories.
Scander's Extra Cleaner solution is available from equipment maintenance. This solution removes permanent ink markings from individual bottles. The same Extra Cleaner solution also dissolves and helps to remove tape residue.
Thanks for your co-operation
Virpi Superior of the Kontinkangas DWA unit
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Virpi Glumoff laboratoriopäällikkö Lääketieteellinen tiedekunta
puh 0294 485890 virpi.glumoff@oulu.fi