Discover Our Sterility Testing Isolator

Ecolab’s Bioquell Qube provides an aseptic ISO 5 / Grade A environment and includes integrated Bioquell Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor* technology, achieving a validated 6-log sporicidal kill on exposed surfaces within operating areas. From its polymer molding to its integration with the Merck Millipore Symbio Flex Sterility Pump, the Bioquell Qube is truly unique and an ideal solution for sterility testing.

*When used according to the label instructions, Ecolab Bioquell systems utilize Bioquell Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilant-AQ (EPA Registration Number:1677-277)

Links to the Bioquell Qube Sterility Testing Isolator pageMore About Bioquell’s Qube Sterility Testing Isolator

Is an isolator the right choice for you? Do you have the right isolator?

What would a false positive or issue mean for you?
Halting production due to a false positive could lead to significant downtime, unnecessary scrapping of product, drug shortages and potentially reduce a company’s standing in the marketplace. Plus the additional time, labor, and costs from CAPA related steps would need to be accounted for.

How much cleanroom space does the process require?
Cleanroom space is often limited and costs per square feet increase as higher grade requirements need to be met.

Does your sterility testing process require a Grade B cleanroom?
With isolators, you can perform testing in lower grade cleanrooms that require less or no gowning. Additionally, valuable cleanroom space can be conserved for other critical operations and can help reduce operating costs as higher grade cleanrooms require greater financial investments from energy and maintenance costs.

Is your current process validated and truly repeatable?
Automated bio-decontamination of incoming materials is a validated process, guaranteeing the same efficacy on every cycle. This further helps to decrease the risk of a false positive as a result.

How many sterility tests do you need to perform in one day?
For those with isolators or perhaps bio-decontaminating spaces hosting sterility testing, being able to perform bio-decontamination of incoming materials in a succinct period of time can lead to more tests being performed in one day. Isolators with this ‘as-needed’ capability offer unique advantages.

Are you outsourcing your sterility testing process?
There are advantages to bringing the process in-house including more control over the process, long-term cost savings, and faster results. Selecting an isolator that can be hosted in CNC areas or lower grade cleanrooms allows this to become a reality for companies despite an upfront equipment related cost.

The Impact of Failure

The impact of a test failure can be significant for a pharmaceutical manufacturer as it typically results in:

  1. Withholding release and potentially scrapping the batch of product which failed the test
  2. Additional cleaning and disinfection of production areas
  3. Regulatory involvement
  4. Financial losses to the manufacture
  5. Preforming timely investigations
  6. Drug shortages to patients
  7. Halting of production of further product whilst investigations are preformed

However, sterility test failures are not always caused by contamination in the product.

A false positive can result when contamination from the environment or operator performing the test finds its way into the test, causing a failure. A product will be deemed as contaminated when in reality it is free of harmful microorganisms.

In the case of a sterility test failure, the burden of proof is on the manufacturer to demonstrate that the failure is the result of a contamination from the operator and/or lab environment, a difficult task to prove. As a result, false positives often lead to compliant and effective products being scrapped unnecessarily.

Protect Your Operation With an Isolator for Sterility Testing

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Regulatory guidance on isolators:

  • EU GMP Annex 1 section 10.6 states:
    “The sterility test should be performed under aseptic conditions”

  • The FDA’s Guidance for Industry for Sterile Drug Products Produced by Aseptic Processing takes things one step further and states in section XI:
    “The use of isolators for sterility testing helps minimize the chance of a false positive test result”

  • According to EU GMP Annex 1 an isolator is:
    “An enclosure capable of being subject to reproducible interior bio-decontamination, with an internal work zone meeting Grade A conditions that provides uncompromised, continuous isolation of its interior from the external environment”

Isolators have a number of features to protect
aseptic processes including:

  • Air tight/inflatable seals on all doors
  • Interlocks to prevent doors being opened once aseptic conditions have been achieved (following bio-decontamination)
  • Unidirectional airflow between 0.36-0.45 m/s (to comply with EU GMP Annex 1 guidance values)
  • HEPA filters to cleanup incoming air
  • Pressure differentials, pressure testing of enclosure and gloves separately
  • Environmental monitoring systems to confirm that the environment remains aseptic during use
  • Airflow and pressure alarms
  • Hydrogen peroxide vapor bio-decontamination system achieving a 6-log sporicidal kill* to eliminate contamination on the enclosure surfaces and incoming materials needed for the testing process

*When used according to the label instructions, Ecolab Bioquell systems utilize Bioquell Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilant-AQ (EPA Registration Number:1677-277)

Benefits of Isolators

Primarily, isolators reduce the risk of false positives occurring during sterility testing which can save manufacturers of sterile products millions of dollars by minimizing unnecessary scrapping of product.
As a secondary benefit, isolators can also provide substantial savings to operating costs.

Unlike a Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC) / Laminar Air Flow (LAF), which must be situated in a Grade B cleanroom, isolators can be situated in a lower Grade C/D cleanroom. This can result in substantial savings from:

  • Energy bills from lower capacity HVAC system
  • Reduced labor resource (for cleaning and disinfection)
  • Less maintenance of the cleanroom
  • Reduced cleaning and disinfection consumable costs
  • Less gowning requirements
  • Increased efficiency of operators as lower gowning means they can work for longer periods
A grade C/D cleanroom hosting an isolator can save 78% the costs per square foot to operate than a grade B cleanroom which a BSC/LAF is required to be situated in.1

1Costing a Cleanroom Per Square Foot, Cleanroom Technology, 28 February 2018


Links to the Bioquell Qube Sterility Testing Isolator pageMore About Bioquell’s Qube Sterility Testing Isolator

Comparing Traditional Stainless Steel Isolators to the Bioquell Qube

Understanding the differences between the Bioquell Qube and other isolators can be complex. Download the comparison document to understand the core differentiating features when comparing the Bioquell Qube’s construction against traditional stainless steel isolators.
Bioquell Qube Compared to Stainless Steel Isolator ConstructionBioquell Qube Compared to Stainless Steel Isolator Construction

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With unparalleled expertise and cutting-edge technology, we partner with customers to deliver world-class results and optimized operations. Contact us to learn how we can help you.

Ecolab Inc.
1 Ecolab Place
St. Paul, MN 55102

Ecolab Customer Service: 
Phone: +1-800-352-5326

Nalco Water Customer Service
Phone: +1-800-288-0879

Give Us a Call

With unparalleled expertise and cutting-edge technology, we partner with customers to deliver world-class results and optimized operations. Contact us to learn how we can help you.

Ecolab Inc.
1 Ecolab Place
St. Paul, MN 55102

Ecolab Customer Service
Phone: +1-800-352-5326

Nalco Water Customer Service
Phone: +1-800-288-0879

Contact Us

Contact Us

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