Microwaves aren’t just for warming coffee any more.
Researchers have proven them to be an effective way to sterilize needles and plastic syringes.
Avoiding infection is critical to any vaccination program. Infections causing lesions can result in poor gains, increased likelihood of secondary infections and animal losses.
Hugh Townsend of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization says producers can save themselves time and money by following proper needle handling practices.
“Producers are often under a lot of pressure when they are vaccinating,” he said.
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“The more they can do to make vaccination a process they follow, the more effective their program will be.”
He recommended changing vaccine needles every 10 to 15 animals or if a needle becomes damaged or badly soiled.
“Never do you want to place a nonsterile needle into a bottle of vaccine. You can contaminate the bottle, modify or injure a vaccine and consequently a whole bunch of animals could be affected,” he said.
Metal vaccine transfer needles can be heat sterilized in the microwave, provided they are fully submerged in water or well wrapped in wet paper towels.
There two methods.
- Water: Rinse needles with hot tap water and place them in a clean glass or plastic container. Don’t use soap and disinfectants because they can kill modified live vaccines.
Cover the needle with at least 250 millilitres of distilled water and microwave on the oven’s highest setting until the water boils. Continue heating for one more minute. The needle must remain submerged to protect the oven and ensure sterilization.
- Steam: Rinse needles in hot tap water and wrap in layers of wet paper towels. Place the bundle in a zip-lock freezer bag that is left partially open. Microwave on the highest setting for two minutes, watching to ensure the towels remain moist.
The bag should swell with steam, which will escape through the unsealed zipper.
Plastic, automatic syringes can also be sterilized in the microwave. Wash external parts with soap and water and rinse internal parts with clean, hot tap water without soap several times by drawing in water using the plunger.
Fill the syringe with distilled water, including the draw-off tube, wrap in at least six layers of wet paper towels and place in an unsealed zip-lock bag.
Heat in the microwave for five minutes, ensuring the paper towels remain damp. Syringes should be sterilized separately. If water remains in the syringe, squirt it out and cool for 10 minutes before use.
Syringes can be stored in a freezer in a sterile, dry container or fresh zip-lock bag.
