Biosafety and Facility Hygiene Topics

Cage Washing

How to Choose a Cage Wash Chemical Provider

Choosing a new cage wash chemical manufacturer and supplier can seem daunting if you don’t know what to look for. We here at Quip Labs know there are a lot of different chemical companies, and these are some of the traits we tell people to look for when deciding between them. Learn More. 

What are predictive chemical analytics?

Predictive Chemical Analytics means that if you have a problem, we know immediately. Our MaestroChem System utilizes web-based conductivity probes and chemical purchasing algorithms to ensure that if your chemical usage changes for any reason, we know about it. Learn More. 

What's the best cage wash detergent for you?

What’s the best cage wash detergent for your vivarium cage wash program? Well, while that depends a lot on the specifics of your cage wash program, there are a few things to always look out for when choosing a cage wash detergent. Learn More. 

What is "house-hot" or "no steam" washing?

“House-Hot” water is a general term for the hot water that is available throughout a facility. House-Hot water cleaning technologies work without the need for the washer to do additional heating, protecting the environment and your budget. Learn more.

Cleaning, Cleaners and Cleaning Additives

How do Quats and Hydrogen Peroxide Compare as Cleaner/Disinfectants?

At Quip Labs, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality products for vivarium and animal care facilities. That’s why we were thrilled to see the results of a recent research poster presented by researchers at UCLA, who sought… Learn More

What are Surfactants?

Surfactants (short for “surface active agents”) are organic chemicals that change the interaction between water, soils and surfaces.

They’re able to do so because they contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups. In a surfactant, the hydrophilic side of the molecule attaches to water, and the hydrophobic side of the molecule avoids it. Learn More. 

What's a proper Clean-In-Place process look like for Food Plants?

CIP is a method of cleaning equipment without having to remove or disassemble piping or equipment.CIP Systems are extremely efficient in that cleaners and sanitizers are pumped through the same piping path as the product itself to eliminate soils from the internal surfaces of the equipment. Learn more.

 

What's an Enzymatic Cleaner?

An enzymatic cleaner is a type of cleaning solution that contains enzymes that help to break down soils at a neutral pH (typically pH 6-8). Enzymes in enzymatic cleaners, such as proteases, amylases, and lipases, are proteins that act as catalysts for reactions that break down various types of soils. Benefits of using enzymatic cleaners include… Read More

What are the basic mechanics of cleaning?

The basic mechanics of cleaning are very simple and can be better understood by reviewing the concept of Sinner’s Circle. This concept states that some combination of Time, Chemical, Heat and Mechanical actions are needed to get surfaces clean. The less you have of one, the more you’ll need of another. Learn more here.

 

Disinfection and Sterilization

Can I use bleach in my vet office?

One question we get a lot is, “Can I use Bleach in my vet office?” Well, you can learn all about the hazards of using bleach in the video above, but the short answer is that it’s not recommended. Learn more.

How Corrosive is your Chlorine Dioxide Disinfectant?

What are the differences between our true chlorine dioxide disinfectants and older chlorine dioxide or pure chlorine technologies? We’ve created this handy infographic which explains the differences in corrosivity when dealing with different chlorine dioxide-based disinfectants. Learn more.

How Does Hypochlorous Acid Compare to ClO2?

How does Hypochlorous Acid compare to chlorine dioxide? We’ve created this handy infographic which explains the differences in corrosivity, efficacy and safety of hypochlorous acid. Learn more.

How Do I Choose the Right Disinfectant?

When choosing a disinfectant or sterilant for your laboratory, it’s important to understand the attributes of each individual disinfectant, as well as any compatibility issues and environmental concerns that accompany it. Learn More.

How can Biofilm Affect My Research?

Biofilm poses significant challenges in vivariums, where the health and well-being of research animals are of utmost importance. Its presence can lead to contamination, compromised animal health, and research validity. Learn More.

What are Disinfectants?

A disinfectant is an agent that is designed to kill problematic microorganisms.  Also, known as germicides, disinfectants can be applied to objects and surfaces in order to reduce the risk of infection. Learn More. 

What are Sterilants?

From a chemical perspective, sterilants are a specific type of disinfecting agent. Sterilants are used to kill all microorganisms, including the endoscope, whereas other disinfectants may have a weaker efficacy or only target specific pathogens. Learn more.

What are the benefits of using QuipDecon for pathogen remediation?

QuipDecon Decontamination Services are performed by trained and certified technicians who follow strict protocols and safety measures. You don’t have to worry about handling hazardous chemicals, disposing of waste, or disrupting your normal operations. Learn more.

What is Microbial or Disinfectant Hierachy?

Not all disinfectants kill all organisms, and the higher up on our Microbial Hierarchy pyramid a pathogen is, the harder it will be to kill. Learn More. 

What is the Logarithmic Scale?

What is the Logarithmic Scale and what does “a 6-Log Reduction” mean? What does the Logarithmic Scale have to do with disinfectants? We hope we can clear up a few of these questions with this handy infographic. Learn more.

What's wrong with using bleach?

If you work in one of the facilities that still uses bleach, you could be using an inactive disinfectant, exposing your employees to unnecessary corrosivity, and wearing out your surfaces and equipment prematurely, which can cost thousands of dollars to replace.  Learn more. 

What type of disinfectant should I use in my electrostatic sprayer?

What disinfectant should you use with a disinfectant sprayer? Well, that depends on a lot of factors including the pathogens you’re looking to get rid of. Most requests we get these days are about electrostatic sprayers and COVID-19, or the cost of COVID-19 disinfectants when applied through an electrostatic sprayer, so we’ll start there. Learn more.

Environmental Monitoring

How does the AccuPoint Advanced ATP Monitoring System Work?

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a chemical produced in all living cells. Its presence on a surface is an indication of organic contamination. That contamination can come from human contact, bacterial presence or some other form of organic residue. Learn More. 

What are some frequently asked questions about the AccuPoint Advanced NG sanitation monitoring system?

What are some frequently asked questions about the AccuPoint Advanced NG sanitation monitoring system? Check out our ATP FAQ page to find out. Learn more.

Pathogens

What is Glove Juice?

You know that moisture inside your rubber gloves? That’s called “Glove Juice” and in addition to being pretty gross, it can also harbor a horde of unwanted microorganisms. You can reduce the number of bacteria that like to multiply in your gloves by not just washing your hands, but using an effective hand sanitizer as well. We recommend an E3-Rated hand sanitizer like our Prepare Hand Sanitizer. Learn More.

What is a Parvovirus?

Parvovirus is a family of viruses commonly encountered in research circles. The name carries a certain weight that is deservedly serious, but how much do you know about this prevalent microorganism? Learn More. 

What products does Quip Labs recommend for SARS-COV-2 and its Variants?

Quip Labs offers 8 disinfectants for use against the SARS-CoV-2 Virus that causes COVID-19. See them all and the equipment we recommend to dispense them on our COVID-19 page. Learn More. 

What products does Quip Labs recommend for MonkeyPox?

We proudly carry HaloMist, a hard surface and fogging disinfectant that has been included on list Q, the EPA’s list of products expected to have efficacy against MonkeyPox. You can learn more about MonkeyPox here.

What products does Quip Labs recommend for Gnotobiotics research?

Keeping your lab controlled requires an understanding of your materials, your cleaning and disinfection chemistries and the specific pathogens you need efficacy for. That’s why we offer Detection and Monitoring Services, Decontamination Services, and disinfectants and sterilants that are explicitly suited to gnotobiosis. Learn more.

Safety and PPE

How do I read an SDS Sheet?

Understanding the different components of an SDS sheet is crucial to keeping a safe facility. Learn to read an SDS sheet, and understand the importance of the different sections here! Learn More. 

What's wrong with Benzyl Alcohol in Disinfectants?

Benzyl alcohol is an aromatic alcohol used across a variety of industries as a preservative, solvent and disinfectant. It’s also a component of some hydrogen peroxide disinfectants in the research industries. One problem is, Benzyl Alcohol has been shown to be a possible inhalation danger. That alone can affect a wide variety of end-users, but there’s actually more to the story than that. Learn More.

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