Effects of microwaving in tissue culture media

[Victor M. Jimenez]

Hello,
    I've read a couple of articles concerning the use of a microwave oven
in place of an autoclave, to sterilize tissue culture media.  But in none
of these references, the possible effects of this procedure to the media
were considerated.
    Does anybody has a contribution in the subject?
    Does anybody know what causes the sterilization?  I don't think that
it is due to the temperature, because the media rarely boils up.
    We use it frequently in our lab, and it works good, unless some of the
solutions used to prepare the medium were contaminated when added.

Thanks in advance,

Victor

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  Victor M. Jimenez            vjimenez at ucrvm2.ucr.cr
       CIGRAS                  Tel. (506)-24-8554
Universidad de Costa Rica      Fax. (506)-53-3762
 San Jose, Costa Rica
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