--- title: Cherwell | SAS Training - castle hill hospital description: Our Microbiology Product Specialist writes about his visit to train Castle Hill Hospital's Infection Control Team on their new SAS Super 180 Air Samplers image: https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hubfs/Castle%20Hill%20Hospital%20SAS%20Training%20Blog.jpg --- [![analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png?width=200&height=43&name=analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png "analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB")](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/) [![Analytichem](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png?width=200&height=56&name=analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png "Analytichem")](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/) Search # SAS Training - castle hill hospital ![](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hubfs/Marketplace/Cherwell%20Labs/imgs/icons/cherwell-icon-45.svg) *By Hamish Hogg* I recently took the long journey from Bicester to Castle Hill Hospital in Hull. The infection control team, as pictured above, decided to purchase three of our [SAS Super 180 air samplers](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hand-held-microbial-air-samplers) for environmental monitoring of their Theatres and I was going to be providing training. We were set up in their office and I split the demonstration into three areas of training: 1. Cleanliness and sterilisation of instrument 2. Sampling 3. Maintenance Then I got them to interact with the air sampler at the end of the demo, to reinforce the main points of information. The reason Castle Hill Hospital adopted a change in sampling device, was due to the fact they used a very dated, trolley based, extension cable requiring, slit to agar Casella air sampler. It was becoming hard to clean, cumbersome to position and difficult to use. In essence to take accurate sampling, staff were required to run the device for 2 minutes with a stopwatch and calculate the final CFU after incubation, because it took 750 litres per minute. ### Cleaning and sterilisation Cleaning of the SAS Super 180 could not be simpler; alcohol spray or impregnated wipes can be used to disinfect the surface of the air sampler. The drilled head can be wiped clean or even autoclaved and with the plate placement area underneath the head, the instrument can be started, and a mist of alcohol spray can be used to be drawn through the device. The product has been made for cleanroom purposes and can be sterilised using vaporised hydrogen peroxide. Much easier and convenient than the historical Casella that requires cleaning on multiple components. From one conversation with a team member at Castle Hill Hospital, cleaning the Casella unit can be lengthy, particularly if the agar ends up rupturing and spreading throughout the internal workings of the device. ### Sampling directions for the SAS Super 180 The sampling directions for volume size and delayed sampling on the SAS Super 180, once shown to the team, was intuitive and easy to follow. The use of visual and audible cues helped know the status of the device. Compared to the Casella - where prior testing has to be performed to ensure the height of the plate is accurate; the SAS Super 180 required no such adjustments. The size and simplicity of the SAS samplers led to the group discussing and risk assessing their current frequency and locations within their Theatre environment. It was great to see it spark dynamic conversation that could lead to improvement in process and better environmental monitoring. ### Maintenance The SAS then proved itself again, in the form of ease of maintenance, as the infection control team had concerns that they would need to calibrate the instrument themselves. The Casella required calibration by the staff, but with the SAS range, [calibration is carried out by Cherwell Laboratories’ engineers](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/air-sampler-calibration-service); either at our engineering department Bicester, Oxfordshire or on-site at customer facilities for customer convenience. Already mentioned, the drilled head is autoclavable and all that is necessary is to check the drilled head for dirt or debris so that the holes are clear as part of the maintenance. The portable, quick and easy use of the SAS air sampler fitted in to the infection control purpose of testing theatre environments. The staff were great to work with, enthusiastic and responsive to the implementation of the new device. It created a good training environment and the staff were please with their new devices.   Comments ## Read other blog articles [ *By Gill Power* #### Specialist products for boosting microbial EM protocol reliability spotlighted by AnalytiChem UK at Pharmig 2025 ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/analytichem-uk-highlight-specialist-em-products-pharmig-2025-annual-conference) [ *By Martin Sketchley* #### Optimisation of Your Environmental Monitoring Workflow – Locking Plates vs Traditional Plates ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/optimisating-your-em-workflow-locking-plates-vs-traditional-plates) [ *By Martin Sketchley* #### Data Integrity in Environmental Monitoring – Locking Plates vs Standard Plates ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/data-integrity-environmental-monitoring-locking-plates-vs-standard-plates) ### Sign Up for our Blog We promise that we won't SPAM you. #### What's next #### Recent news [![Specialist products for boosting microbial EM protocol reliability spotlighted by AnalytiChem UK at Pharmig 2025](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Redipor%20TwistLock%20Contact%20Plates%20with%20GS1%20DataMatrix%20Codes.png?width=50&height=50&name=Redipor%20TwistLock%20Contact%20Plates%20with%20GS1%20DataMatrix%20Codes.png) **Specialist products for boosting microbial EM protocol reliability spotlighted by AnalytiChem UK at Pharmig 2025** 10 November 2025 ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/analytichem-uk-highlight-specialist-em-products-pharmig-2025-annual-conference) [![New AnalytiChem UK appointment strengthens customer focus and growth strategy](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Tom%20Pickford%20AnalytiChem%20UK%20Business%20Development%20Manager%20Midlands.jpg?width=50&height=50&name=Tom%20Pickford%20AnalytiChem%20UK%20Business%20Development%20Manager%20Midlands.jpg) **New AnalytiChem UK appointment strengthens customer focus and growth strategy** 20 October 2025 ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/new-analytichem-uk-appointment-strengthens-customer-focus-and-growth-strategy) #### Subscribe Receive the latest articles as they are published. #### Contact us Registered Office 7 & 8 Launton Business Centre, Murdock Road, Bicester, OX26 4XB **Phone** Tel: +44 (0) 1869 355 500 **Email** [sales.uk@analytichem.com](mailto:sales.uk@analytichem.com)    ![analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png?width=2000&height=431&name=analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png "analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB") ![BSI-ISO-9001-Certified-50px](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/BSI-ISO-9001-Certified-50px.png?width=130&height=77&name=BSI-ISO-9001-Certified-50px.png "BSI-ISO-9001-Certified-50px") AnalytiChem UK ©2025 (Formerly Cherwell) Reg. in England No: 01159518 VAT Reg. 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