Manual vs. Automated Labware Washing

There are several key factors that determine consistency in the labware washing process, whether manual or automatic. Industry professionals refer to these factors as the Sinner’s Circle which includes crucial functions of an effective wash process. Effective labware cleaning requires that all four factors of the Sinner’s Circle be considered as a balanced equation whereby a trade-off of one factor is compensated by another.

This report details the challenges and problems associated with manually washed labware versus labware cleaned in automatic washing systems, and illustrates in context the Sinner’s Circle as it applies to efficacy and repeatability. While the initial investment of a labware washer represents a larger upfront cost, total life cycle costs and payback are measurable based on calculations using internally generated data from facility management.