Aseptic Technique: A Goal to Strive for in Collection Recovery of Moldy Archival Materials and Artifacts

Abstract

In a collection recovery of moldy heritage materials, it is impossible to attain a completely aseptic technique because of the open sites and often large numbers of objects. Still, it is a goal to strive for. Aseptic technique can prevent cross-contamination from moldy to nonmoldy objects and an increase in airborne conidia in the work site, reducing health hazards as well as hazards to objects. Personal protection—masks, gloves, and garments—and a method for moving air away from the conservator during recovery treatments must be used. Another reason for using aseptic technique is that monitoring methods for determining contamination of air or surfaces have biases that make the results difficult if not impossible to interpret; thus every effort to prevent contamination is essential.