Isolators, also known as gloveboxes, are purpose-built laboratory devices that are sealed from the work area in a gas-tight manner and are used for procedures to be carried out under sterile conditions or in a controlled atmosphere. Isolators create a physically isolated space where sensitive or potentially hazardous materials can be handled, minimizing the risk of contamination or exposure to the environment and staff.

Basic features of insulators (German translation: Isolatoren, Handschuhkästen):

• Sterility: Maintaining a sterile working environment that protects the product from microbial contamination.
• Controlled atmosphere: Maintaining certain conditions within the isolator, including temperature, humidity levels and the composition of the atmosphere (e.g. inert gases for anaerobic conditions).
• Safety: Protecting operators and the environment from exposure to potentially hazardous substances or chemicals handled in the isolator.
• Air filtration: Use of filtration systems including HEPA and ULPA filters to clean incoming and outgoing air, ensure sterility and prevent contamination.
• Access control: Systems for loading and unloading materials, such as airlocks (German: Schleusen), which allow materials to be safely transferred in and out without disturbing the controlled environment.

Isolators are used in the following areas, among others:

• Pharmaceutical industry: Production of sterile drugs and cytostatics, including aseptic testing and packaging.
• Microbiological tests: Working with dangerous microorganisms or highly infectious samples in a safe environment.
• Biotechnology and cell culture: Cultivation of cells and tissues in sterile media for research or the manufacture of biological products.
• Nuclear medicine and radiopharmacy: Handling radioactive substances in the manufacture of radiopharmaceuticals or in radiological research.
• Chemical and technical industry: For handling highly active or toxic chemical compounds that require strictly controlled conditions or for the manufacture of sensitive components such as semiconductors (translation into German: Halbleiter).

Isolators are an important element of modern laboratories and production processes which require a high degree of control over the working environment in order to ensure product safety and quality and to prevent the emission of hazardous substances into the environment.

Would you like to find out more about our work as pharmaceutical interpreters? Take a look at our letters of recommendation.