The Gastec 163TP Ethylene Oxide Detector Tubes are designed for sensitive measurement of ethylene oxide (C2H4O) in air using a compatible automatic air sampling pump.

The 163TP provides a quantitative measuring range of 0.1 to 5 ppm, with a detection limit of 0.05 ppm under the specified sampling conditions. The detector system produces a yellow-to-pale-orange color change for visual determination of ethylene oxide concentration.

IMPORTANT: The Gastec 163TP uses two connected tubes for each measurement. Each box contains 10 tubes for a total of 5 tests.

Automatic Air Sampling Pump Required

IMPORTANT: Gastec 163TP Ethylene Oxide Detector Tubes require a compatible automatic air sampling pump capable of maintaining a continuous 50 mL/min sampling rate.

Correct Automatic Sampling Pump:
Gastec GSP-501FT Automatic Air Sampling Pump

The Gastec 163TP is an automatic air sampling pump detector tube and should not be treated as a standard hand-pump detector tube.

Accurate measurement requires drawing 500 mL of air through the connected detector tube system at 50 mL/min for 10 minutes.

Do not substitute a standard manual Gastec detector tube pump for the required automatic sampling method.

Measurement & Sampling Specifications

Measurement Range	Sampling Rate	Sample Volume	Correction Factor	Sampling Time
0.1–5 ppm	50 mL/min	500 mL	1	10 Minutes

The Gastec 163TP requires continuous sampling at 50 mL/min for 10 minutes, producing a total sample volume of 500 mL.

The correction factor is 1 under the specified sampling conditions. Temperature and atmospheric-pressure corrections should be applied when required.

Product Specifications

Brand: Gastec
Tube Type: Ethylene Oxide Detector Tube for Automatic Air Sampling Pump
Part Number: 163TP
Gas/Vapor Measured: Ethylene Oxide
Chemical Formula: C2H4O
Measurement Range: 0.1–5 ppm
Detection Limit: 0.05 ppm at 500 mL (minimum detectable concentration; not part of the quantitative measuring range)
Sampling Rate: 50 mL/min
Sample Volume: 500 mL
Correction Factor: 1
Sampling Time: 10 Minutes
Color Change: Yellow → Pale Orange
Operating Temperature: 0–40°C (32–104°F), temperature correction required
Operating Humidity: 10–90% RH, humidity correction not required
Relative Standard Deviation: 10% for 0.1–1 ppm; 5% for 1–5 ppm
Quantity: 10 Tubes
Tests per Box: 5 Tests
Shelf Life: 12 Months, refrigerated
Pump Requirement: Compatible Automatic Air Sampling Pump Required

Two-Tube Measurement System

The Gastec 163TP requires two tubes to be connected together for each measurement.

The system consists of a primary tube and analyzer tube. Break the required ends of both tubes and connect the marked ends using the supplied rubber tubing according to Gastec's instructions.

Insert the analyzer tube into the automatic air sampling pump with the arrow on the tube pointing toward the pump.

Because two tubes are consumed during each measurement, one box containing 10 tubes provides 5 complete tests.

Always follow the official Gastec 163TP instruction manual for proper tube preparation, connection, orientation, and sampling procedure.

Ethylene Oxide Measurement

The Gastec 163TP provides sensitive quantitative measurement of ethylene oxide concentrations from 0.1 to 5 ppm.

The 0.05 ppm detection limit represents the minimum concentration capable of producing a detectable reaction under the specified 500 mL sampling conditions. It is not part of the quantitative measuring range and should not be interpreted as a 0.05–5 ppm measurement range.

During sampling, ethylene oxide is converted to formaldehyde, which subsequently reacts within the detector system to produce the visible yellow-to-pale-orange color change.

Common Applications

Gastec 163TP Ethylene Oxide Detector Tubes may be used for applicable ethylene oxide air-monitoring applications including:

• Industrial Hygiene & Occupational Exposure Monitoring

• Workplace Ethylene Oxide Monitoring

• Sterilization Facilities & Processes

• Medical Device Sterilization Areas

• Chemical Manufacturing & Processing

• Industrial Process Air Monitoring

• Environmental Atmospheric Monitoring

• Leak & Release Investigations

• Laboratory & Research Applications

• Ethylene Oxide Vapor Monitoring

Temperature Correction

The Gastec 163TP is designed for use between 0 and 40°C (32–104°F) and temperature correction is required.

Use the temperature-correction table provided in the official Gastec 163TP instruction manual to determine the true concentration based on the detector tube reading and actual sampling temperature.

No humidity correction is required within the specified 10–90% RH operating range.

Atmospheric-pressure correction may also be required according to Gastec's official measurement procedure.

Possible Interferences

Certain coexisting substances may affect Gastec 163TP measurements.

Formaldehyde: At 0.6 ppm, may produce a positive interference and independently produce a pale-orange color.

Acetaldehyde: At 2.0 ppm, may produce a positive interference and independently produce a pale-orange color.

Ketones: At 15 ppm, may produce a positive interference and independently produce a pale-orange color.

Alcohols: At 300 ppm, may produce a negative interference without independently changing color.

Coexisting gases and vapors should always be considered when interpreting detector tube measurements.

Storage

The Gastec 163TP has a manufacturer-specified 12-month shelf life when stored in the refrigerator.

Gastec's current instruction manual specifies storing the tubes at 10°C (50°F) or below in a refrigerator.

Always follow the validity date and storage instructions printed on the detector tube box.

Important

A compatible automatic air sampling pump is required for correct use of the Gastec 163TP Ethylene Oxide Detector Tubes.

Purchase the Automatic Sampling Pump:
Gastec GSP-501FT Automatic Air Sampling Pump

Sampling is performed at 50 mL/min for 10 minutes, producing a total sample volume of 500 mL.

Two detector tubes must be connected for each measurement. Therefore, 10 tubes provide 5 complete tests.

Do not use a standard manual detector tube pump in place of the required automatic sampling method.

Temperature and atmospheric-pressure corrections should be applied when required according to Gastec's official instructions.

Always follow Gastec's official instructions for tube preparation and connection, sampling rate, sample volume, sampling time, environmental corrections, possible interferences, refrigerated storage, and interpretation of results.

Choose Instrument Depot for dependable Gastec 163TP Ethylene Oxide Detector Tubes, C2H4O detector tubes, ethylene oxide testing, EtO detector tubes, workplace ethylene oxide monitoring, sterilization air monitoring, Gastec automatic air sampling pumps, industrial hygiene air monitoring, gas detector tubes, and industrial gas detection equipment.