How To use a Autoclave Sterilizer

POSTED: June 21, 2010 at 5:58 pm

You may have never heard of Charles Chamberland, but chances are you’ve benefitted from the invention credited to this seventeenth century French microbiologist. The autoclave is essentially a specialized steam cooker used to sterilize equipment. Surprisingly, the autoclave shows up in more places than you’d think, and is essential for ensuring patient safety in many situations.

Picture this- you’re sitting in the doctor’s office, dentist’s chair, or even a tattoo parlor. As they approach you with a sharp-looking metal instrument, you nervously wonder how clean this instrument really is. Sure, it looks clean, but what if there’s some nasty germ that got on the equipment from the last person it was used on? Is soap and water enough to ensure your safety?

You’re right to wonder, but thanks to the autoclave, you’re probably safe (as long as the equipment was sterilized correctly, of course). Physicians, dentists, tattoo artists and others use autoclaves to kill any bacteria, viruses, or fungi that may be present on instruments. The autoclave uses steam, intense heat and high pressure to sterilize items. Autoclaves, or sterilizers as they are sometimes called, come in a range of types and sizes to meet the needs of different settings.

Autoclave Types

Stove Top Autoclave

The simplest autoclave is a stove-top model. It looks like a large pot with a bolt down lid and a pressure gauge. As the name implies, the stove top autoclave requires an external source of heat. While this is the most affordable type of autoclave sterilizer, the stove top autoclave is both inconvenient and very dangerous if not used correctly.

Front Loading Autoclave

Front loading autoclaves are more popular than stove top models because they are easier and safer to use. (However, they are also potentially dangerous and must be used with caution.) These self contained units include a heat source and they allow the user to set controls to the desired temperature and cycle length. Smaller counter top sterilizers are convenient for medical and dental offices or tattoo parlors. Larger installed units are generally found in hospitals, laboratories, and other facilities that regularly need to sterilize a large volume of items.

Both manual and automatic front loading autoclaves are available. Manual sterilizers generally have dials on the control panel that allow users to set temperature and cycle time. Choosing a manual front loading autoclave is a great option for small medical practices or other offices that need effective sterilization at an affordable price.

Automatic autoclaves may be a little more pricy, but they offer the maximum convenience for sterilizing equipment. Users can select pre-programmed cycles or enter their own specifications. With an automatic sterilizer, the user can push one button and have the unit sterilize and dry a load without any further human input. Some automatic autoclaves even open their doors by themselves to allow heat and steam to vent after sterilization.

Autoclave Effectiveness

Autoclaves are very successful at killing germs like bacteria, fungi, and viruses. In fact, autoclaving is the standard method for sterilizing non-disposable medical equipment in order to ensure patient safety.

However, in very rare situations an autoclave may not be enough. Sterilization alone is not effective against prions that cause Mad Cow Disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that contaminated equipment should also be immersed in Enzol Enzymatic Detergen during the sterilization cycle for in order to destroy the prions. Also, a microbe called “Strain 121” can actually survive the very high temperatures in a sterilizer. Not that Strain 121 poses a threat to anyone’s health- this microbe was discovered living in thermal vents deep under the ocean. Still, it illustrates that sterilization is not perfect.

A more common problem with autoclave sterilization occurs when something goes wrong with the cycle and the proper temperature and pressure is not maintained for long enough to kill all pathogens. Several quality control methods have been developed to ensure that the sterilization was effective. Autoclave tape and some medical packaging contain chemical indicators that change color when the necessary autoclave conditions are reached. Biological indicators (“spore tests”) use spores to also create a color change and are more reliable than the chemical indicators. Physical indicators contain an alloy that melts when the autoclave cycle has run properly.

To keep an autoclave working properly, it should have maintenance performed ever six months. A spore test or biological indicator should be run at regular intervals, and autoclave tape or bags with indicator dye should be used with every load. The owner’s manual of an autoclave will also describe daily and weekly maintenance needed for optimum performance.

Bag instruments to be autoclaved that will not be used immediately. This will keep instruments sterile after they are removed from the autoclave until they are ready to be used.

When used properly, autoclaves are an effective and essential way to sterilize equipment and instruments. The steam sterilization used by autoclaves is non-toxic, low cost, and reliable. Autoclaves have greatly contributed to patient and consumer safety in doctor’s offices, hospitals, dentists’ offices, and tattoo parlors.