Integra mediaclave – Automated Media Preparation and Sterilization System

To provide additional protection, the vessel lid is equipped with an autonomous overpressure safety valve and a burst disc. These mechanical safety components operate independently from the electronic monitoring systems, offering an extra layer of security in the unlikely event of a system failure. Together, these integrated safety features help protect both laboratory personnel and the working environment while maintaining reliable process performance.

Key Components:

1. Adding Port
2. Overpressure Safety Valve
3. Dispensing Port
4. Pt1000 Temperature Probe

The MEDIACLAVE is equipped with powerful heating elements that enable rapid heating and sterilization of culture media. By shortening processing times, the system minimizes thermal stress on media components, helping to preserve media quality and support optimal growth conditions for microorganisms.

During the sterilization process, pressure- and temperature-controlled deaeration ensures the presence of saturated steam within the vessel, contributing to effective and reproducible sterilization results.

Following sterilization, an integrated plate heat exchanger enables rapid and controlled cooling to the desired dispensing temperature. Because the cooling water circuit is completely separated from the sterilization chamber, the risk of media contamination is minimized, ensuring product integrity throughout the process.

Available Processing Modes:

1. Standard Mode
A fully automated cycle that includes heating, sterilization, and cooling to the required dispensing temperature.

2. Chocolate Agar Mode
After the initial sterilization phase, blood can be added to the medium before a second controlled heating cycle is performed, supporting the preparation of high-quality chocolate agar media.

The MEDIACLAVE is designed to deliver reliable and reproducible sterilization results for a wide range of culture media. Its powerful magnetic stirring system features adjustable mixing speeds and reversible rotation, ensuring excellent homogeneity across media with varying viscosities.

A highly accurate Pt1000 temperature probe continuously monitors the sterilization process, while advanced microprocessor control precisely regulates key parameters such as temperature, pressure, and time. Together, these features ensure thorough sterilization, consistent media quality, and reproducible results from batch to batch.

The MEDIACLAVE is designed to integrate smoothly with downstream dispensing solutions, helping laboratories create an efficient and automated media production workflow. When connected to the MEDIAJET Petri Dish Filler, prepared media can be transferred directly for the automated filling of Petri dishes, reducing manual handling and increasing throughput.

For applications requiring greater flexibility, the DOSE IT Peristaltic Pump can be used to dispense media into containers of various sizes and shapes, including bottles, flasks, test tubes, and specialty Petri dishes. This makes the MEDIACLAVE suitable for a wide range of microbiology and laboratory applications.

Large-volume containers can also be filled using the system’s pressure dispensing functionality. By automatically generating pressure within the sterilization chamber, the MEDIACLAVE enables efficient and controlled dispensing while maintaining media quality throughout the process.

The MEDIACLAVE continuously monitors and records critical process parameters throughout the sterilization cycle, providing complete documentation for quality assurance and regulatory compliance. Process data can be transferred and stored on a connected PC, allowing laboratories to maintain detailed records of every preparation cycle.

To support validated laboratory environments, electronic process files are automatically secured with a digital signature in accordance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and EU GMP Annex 11 requirements. In addition, log files can be conveniently exported and stored via the integrated USB port for easy backup and retrieval.

For laboratories that require physical records, the MEDIACLAVE can be equipped with an optional dot matrix printer. This provides durable, high-quality printouts that are resistant to fading, making them ideal for long-term archiving and documentation purposes.

Sustainability starts with designing laboratory equipment that is built to last. INTEGRA develops its products with durability, reliability, and serviceability in mind, helping laboratories maximize the lifespan of their equipment while reducing the need for replacements and unnecessary waste.

In addition to long-lasting instruments, INTEGRA offers a range of environmentally conscious consumable solutions designed to reduce plastic usage in everyday laboratory workflows. By combining durable equipment with more sustainable consumables, laboratories can lower their environmental impact while maintaining the performance and quality they rely on.

Typical examples are:

• LB (Luria Bertani) Medium – primarily used for the cultivation of Escherichia coli
• Tryptic Soy Agar – general purpose medium used for culturing a wide array of microorganisms
• Blood Agar – for fastidious microorganisms
• Chocolate Agar – for fastidious respiratory bacteria such as Haemophilus influenzae
• MacConkey Agar – for Gram-negative bacteria
• Sabouraud Agar – for fungi
• Peptone solutions – for sample preparation

Charcoal Agar is commonly used for the cultivation and isolation of microorganisms such as *Bordetella pertussis* and *Haemophilus influenzae*. Due to its high viscosity, preparing this medium can be challenging and time-consuming using conventional methods.

When equipped with a paddle stirrer, the MEDIACLAVE can efficiently prepare high-viscosity Charcoal Agar without the need for pre-swelling. The enhanced mixing performance helps ensure a homogeneous medium while significantly reducing preparation time by more than 30%, improving both productivity and consistency in the laboratory.

Benefits of using the MEDIACLAVE with a paddle stirrer:

• Improved mixing performance
• Minimized foaming
• Shorter preparation time

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The MEDIACLAVE provides an advanced and reliable alternative to traditional cooking pots or stirrer kettles commonly used for preparing Drosophila food. Thanks to its integrated cooling system, it eliminates long waiting times for the mixture to reach dispensing temperature, significantly improving workflow efficiency.

In as little as 90 minutes, the medium is ready for dispensing, while the system maintains the fly food at the desired temperature until it is needed. This ensures consistent preparation conditions, better process control, and improved usability in laboratory environments.

View the video here: