1. Cleaning
Cleaning is the first and most basic level of decontamination. It involves using soap and water to scrub and remove visible internal residue and external stains. Although it is an elementary process, routine cleaning reduces the number of microorganisms on your equipment.
2. Disinfection
Disinfection involves chemical or heat treatment of laboratory equipment. This method greatly reduces the number of microbes on any surface, eliminating the risk of infections. However, it is essential to note that the effect of disinfection will be greatly reduced or even negligible if the equipment has not been cleaned with soap and water.
3. Sterilization
Sterilization uses physical and chemical procedures to destroy all microbial life in equipment, including highly resistant bacterial endospores. Methods for sterilizing laboratory equipment include heat, gas, plasma, steam, and radiation. The odds of a microorganism surviving on a sterilized surface are almost negligible.