Frequently, dental practices and other healthcare facilities wonder: are there any tests that I can perform in between my weekly biological indicator (spore test)? Yes, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention:
- Use mechanical, chemical, and biological monitors according to the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the effectiveness of the sterilization process (IB).
- Monitor each load with mechanical (e.g., time, temperature, and pressure) and chemical indicators (II).
- Place a chemical indicator on the inside of each package. If the internal indicator is not visible from the outside, also place an exterior chemical indicator on the package (II).1
While not a required weekly spore test, chemical integrators are a great way to monitor your sterilization process each day.
ProChem SSW Steam Sterilization Integrator is a single-use Class 5 Integrating Indicator that integrates three essential criteria for proper steam sterilization: time, temperature, and steam. When processed along with a load it indicates, with a margin of safety, whether the proper steam sterilization criteria have been achieved.
- Place at least one ProChem SSW Integrator in each sterilization cycle.
- After the sterilization cycle is complete, verify the ink has reached the ACCEPT window.
- If the dark bar does not reach the ACCEPT window, reprocessing is required.
Shop online now for ProChem SSW Integrators!
Source:
1 https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/pdf/recommendations-excerpt.pdf
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