Harm Reduction Non sterile micron 0.22 micron filters: good enough?

[xxl]

Some suppliers sell these in bulk, not individually packed. Would these still offer good safety, possibly after flushing with isopropanol + sterile water?

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Yes.

I don't even bother cleaning them, they work just fine.

I would swab the male end with isopropanol and let it fully dry before use.

It's always recommended to put just a tiny bit of water past the micron filter first to "wet" it before exposing it to the inactives of a solution.

So in short: yes, it works just fine.

 

[Flexistentialist]

Not being sterile means that you're missing out on one of the main benefits of using a 0.22, which is making your mix almost sterile. Using non sterile filters means you will still be at risk of localised infections, endocarditis, dirty hits and other complications from bacterial contamination.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Not being sterile means that you're missing out on one of the main benefits of using a 0.22, which is making your mix almost sterile. Using non sterile filters means you will still be at risk of localised infections, endocarditis, dirty hits and other complications from bacterial contamination.

You can sterilize them, however.

Furthermore, if you sterilize at least the male end and surface closest to the male end of the 0.22um layer, the 0.22um layer itself will filter out bacteria.

 

[Thomas29]

You can sterilize them, however.

Furthermore, if you sterilize at least the male end and surface closest to the male end of the 0.22um layer, the 0.22um layer itself will filter out bacteria.

Correct it even makes sense.

 

[herm1t]

You can sterilize them, however.

Furthermore, if you sterilize at least the male end and surface closest to the male end of the 0.22um layer, the 0.22um layer itself will filter out bacteria.

You couldn't truely sterilise it without blasting it with radiation though right?

 

[Captain.Heroin]

You couldn't truely sterilise it without blasting it with radiation though right?

Sure, there are other ways of sterilizing micron filters other than blasting it with gamma irradiation.

There's been instructions posted in the Micron Filtering Mega Thread about how to sterilize a micron filter, let's see if I can find them...

here we go

This is specifically for a brand of micron filter I do not use, so depending on which product you have, you will want to look up the specific sterilizing instructions for that product.

Sterilization: 6 autoclave or SIP cycles of 30 min @ 123 °C

http://www.millipore.com/catalogue/item/cvss01tp3

 

[blackjesus]

it seems like you would also be able to use a pressure cooker @ 15 psi for 90min to sterilize these filters as well. (wrapped in foil of course) in line with the autoclave example.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

it seems like you would also be able to use a pressure cooker @ 15 psi for 90min to sterilize these filters as well. (wrapped in foil of course) in line with the autoclave example.

I have never done this before but I am assuming it could work.

Always do the research, or have spare supplies. I would hate for someone to try to sterilize their last micron filter, have something go wrong, and then be stuck without supplies.

Thanks for contributing your suspicions.

 

[blackjesus]

tattoo needles are home sterilized with pressure cookers. it is usually submerged in water, the steam is what sterilizes so if a micron filter isnt able to get wet that may pose a problem.

 

[Flexistentialist]

The membranes in some micron filters will break with too much heat or pressure.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

tattoo needles are home sterilized with pressure cookers. it is usually submerged in water, the steam is what sterilizes so if a micron filter isnt able to get wet that may pose a problem.

Of course it can get wet, as long as you intend on using it.

The membranes in some micron filters will break with too much heat or pressure.

I have looked at the PSI it would take to break the micron filters I use, it would be a substantial amount of pressure to be honest. It's probably not impossible, but thank you for pointing this out, you are correct.