The present disclosure is directed to self-contained biological indicators wherein a single type of indicator is capable of being used for various sterilization conditions, including sterilization with steam, hydrogen peroxide, and/or ethylene oxide. In some embodiments, a single type of biological indicator is capable of being used for different steam sterilization conditions having varied temperatures and sterilization cycles.

A biological indicator includes: a BI housing; a germinant container inside the BI housing and housing a germinant composition; a germinant releaser configured to release the germinant composition from the germinant container; a germinant releaser support supporting the germinant releaser and configured to bring the germinant releaser into contact with the germinant container upon application of a force to the germinant releaser support or the germinant container; a first spore carrier inside the BI housing, the first spore carrier having a plurality of spores deposited at a first surface thereof; and an imaging window at a first surface of the BI housing. A BI reader is configured to detect and quantify the presence of live spores in the BI, and includes an excitation source, a camera for capturing images of the spores over time, and a processor for analyzing the images to determine the presence of live spores.

A plant fat-based scaffold for growing cell-based meat products for consumption. The scaffold comprises primarily plant fats or waxes in addition to cell binding proteins and optional additional components that assist in the growth of cultivated animal cells. The scaffold can exist in both a liquified state during sterilization and a solid state during the formation of the scaffold, the seeding of the cultivated cells, and the cellular growth phase. The scaffold is capable of remaining in the final product for consumption or is partially or completely melted out of the final product and recycled into raw material for forming new scaffolds.

A method is provided for vaporized hydrogen peroxide cleaning of a chamber. The method includes altering a temperature of air in the chamber from an initial temperature to a sterilization temperature over a first time period. The method also includes injecting vaporized hydrogen peroxide into air in the chamber to alter a relative humidity of hydrogen peroxide vapor in the chamber to a sterilization level over the first time period. The method also includes maintaining the temperature at the sterilization temperature and the relative humidity at the sterilization level over a second time period. The method also includes reducing the relative humidity from the sterilization level to a safe level over a third time period. In one embodiment, the method is provided for vaporized hydrogen peroxide cleaning of an interior chamber of an incubation container. In other embodiments, the incubation chamber featured in the method is provided.

A method for automated microbial monitoring in an isolator having a transfer lock, the method comprising the steps: first providing at least one nutrient medium carrier holder at, in each case, a first position within the isolator; second providing at least one nutrient medium carrier within the transfer lock; first robot-assisted transferring of an individual nutrient medium carrier from the transfer lock to a free nutrient medium carrier holder; and first robot-assisted placing of the transferred nutrient medium carrier in the free nutrient medium carrier holder. Further, a system for automated microbial monitoring in an isolator and a computer program are also disclosed.

A biological indicator (100) for use in a liquid-chemical decontamination system is disclosed. The biological indicator may include a housing (102) and a cap (106) coupled to the housing. The cap may comprise a liquid chamber and at least two ports. One of the ports may connect to a liquid passage in the cap such that liquids such as liquid-chemical decontaminants may be introduced and removed from the biological indicator via this port.

A biological indicator includes: a BI housing; a germinant container inside the BI housing and housing a germinant composition; a germinant releaser configured to release the germinant composition from the germinant container; a germinant releaser support supporting the germinant releaser and configured to bring the germinant releaser into contact with the germinant container upon application of a force to the germinant releaser support or the germinant container; a first spore carrier inside the BI housing, the first spore carrier having a plurality of spores deposited at a first surface thereof; and an imaging window at a first surface of the BI housing. A BI reader is configured to detect and quantify the presence of live spores in the BI, and includes an excitation source, a camera for capturing images of the spores over time, and a processor for analyzing the images to determine the presence of live spores.

A method is provided for vaporized hydrogen peroxide cleaning of a chamber. The method includes altering a temperature of air in the chamber from an initial temperature to a sterilization temperature over a first time period. The method also includes injecting vaporized hydrogen peroxide into air in the chamber to alter a relative humidity of hydrogen peroxide vapor in the chamber to a sterilization level over the first time period. The method also includes maintaining the temperature at the sterilization temperature and the relative humidity at the sterilization level over a second time period. The method also includes reducing the relative humidity from the sterilization level to a safe level over a third time period. In one embodiment, the method is provided for vaporized hydrogen peroxide cleaning of an interior chamber of an incubation container. In other embodiments, the incubation chamber featured in the method is provided.

A self-contained sterilization process biological indicator is provided. The indicator includes a housing. Test microorganisms disposed in the housing are enveloped by a wax composition. The wax composition comprises a long-chain (greater than C22) linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl alcohol, wherein the alkyl or alkenyl alcohol is not linked through an ester bond or an ether bond to a short chain alkyl or aryl (C1-C6) group, wherein the alkyl or alkenyl alcohol is not linked through an ester bond or an ether bond to a long chain (C8-C36) alkyl or alkenyl group, wherein the alkyl or alkenyl alcohol is not linked through an amide bond to a linear or branched long chain (C8-C36) alkyl or alkenyl amine or acid. The wax composition has a melting point between 78° C. and 120° C. Also contained in the housing are a nutrient composition and an openable container containing a liquid medium.

A SCBI useful in ambient air pressure systems is disclosed. The SCBI includes a body which serves as the culture tube, a glass media ampoule, an inoculated stainless steel disc positioned on the top of the glass media ampoule so that the spores are close to the top/opening of the SCBI, filter paper on the top of the body and overlying the disc, and a cap.