autoclaves

It was about a month ago that we had a lab meeting, during which CK and DK assured us that we would soon not only have a new autoclave, they were going to rework the plumbing that feeds the autoclaves because the pipes run the wrong way and that's pretty much the reason that we wear down an autoclave that should last twenty years in less than five.

As of now, there has been no further mention of this plan. We still have one working autoclave (and one busted one). The one that is supposedly working must be cooled down almost completely in between runs. This takes about an hour. Each run takes about an hour. Assuming someone is watching closely and that everything that needs to be autoclaved is ready to go in at the right time, the autoclave could be run four times a shift. Realistically, it is more like three.

On third shift, we have to make VRB every day. That takes up one autoclave run. Plates take up another (why we have to sterilize garbage is beyond me...). That leaves one autoclave run for anything else we might possibly need.

Last night, plates went in first, because there were about three shifts' worth from the Christmas break. After that, we needed VRB bottles and we needed flasks. Luckily, these two items can go together. Unluckily, the autoclave failed THREE times before we managed to get it running.

If we only have one semi-working autoclave...how are we supposed to get everything done if 'semi-working' becomes....'occasionally maybe working'?