Products › Irradiated Bedding

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Harlan Teklad is committed to meeting the needs of research institutions that use irradiated bedding. Industry demand for these products has steadily increased as biosecurity remains important, and the advantages and convenience of using irradiated diets versus autoclaved diets has gained greater recognition.

Irradiation Defined - Irradiation describes the process where a substance is exposed to a source of radiation. In the case of our bedding products, the source is the radioisotope cobalt-60, which emits gamma electromagnetic radiation. As the gamma radiation permeates the product, organisms living in the bedding, such as bacteria and viruses, are damaged at the molecular level, often with lethal effects. The net result is a substantial reduction in the bioburden of the product.

Quality Assurance - Our bedding products are irradiated by an independent company that specializes in irradiation. The facility where Harlan Teklad bedding is processed has been audited and approved by our quality assurance team. Harlan Teklad irradiated bedding is guaranteed to receive a minimum dose of 2 Mrads and a maximum dose of 5 Mrads. A certificate of irradiation is provided with every shipment of product that is processed. All products to be irradiated are labeled with a chemical process indicator that changes color from yellow to red upon exposure to radiation. This allows both Harlan Teklad and our customers to distinguish irradiated product from nonirradiated product by inspecting the packaging.

Advantages of Irradiated Bedding

• Valuable time and labor normally devoted to operating and maintaining the autoclave are made available for other functions by using irradiated bedding.
•Standardized and more controlled method of reducing bioburden versus autoclaving (there can be variation in autoclaves and their operation).

Bedding

• All bedding that is irradiated is packaged in four-millimeter plastic bags with various additional packaging depending on the specific product.
• Weight or volume varies with each bedding product.
Technical data sheets which include packaging details and information on volume and weight for Irradiated Corn Cob (7992, 7997), Irradiated Sani-Chips® (7990, 7990C, 7990S) and Irradiated Tek-Fresh (7999) are available.

Product Numbers - Most bedding products can be irradiated. In order to differentiate irradiated bedding from the nonirradiated, the second numeral in the product number of the diet is changed to a “9.” For example, Harlan Corn Cob 7092 is 7992 after it has been irradiated. Although the product numbers differ slightly, the beddings are identical. For each irradiated bedding product, the applicable technical data sheet is provided.