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This method is a faster process than dry heat sterilization. Steam sterilization is performed using an autoclave, sometimes called a converter or steam sterilizer. The object or liquid is placed in the autoclave chamber, which is then sealed and heated using pressurized steam to a temperature set point for a defined period of time.
An autoclave is a machine used to carry out industrial and scientific processes requiring elevated temperature and pressure in relation to ambient pressure and/or temperature. Autoclaves are used before surgical procedures to perform sterilization and in the chemical industry to cure coatings and vulcanize rubber and for hydrothermal synthesis ...
Koch's or Arnold's steam sterilizer: used for steam sterilization A pressure cooker: used as a portable autoclave Biological and chemical indicators: Used to ascertain if a certain process has been completed, e.g. spores used in an autoclave are killed if autoclaving is properly done Filters: •Candle filter:
"F 0" is defined as the number of equivalent minutes of steam sterilization at temperature 121.1 °C (250 °F) delivered to a container or unit of product calculated using a z-value of 10 °C. The term F-value or "F Tref/z " is defined as the equivalent number of minutes to a certain reference temperature (T ref ) for a certain control ...
Sterilization can also be achieved using ethylene oxide (ETO) gas. This process was created in the 1950s by the US military [4] and is used on items that cannot withstand the high temperatures of steam sterilization. ETO sterilization takes far longer than steam sterilization and is hazardous to workers, so alternative methods were created in ...
Additionally, while autoclaves require external water input, modern converters utilize the moisture content already present in the conversion cell to generate steam sterilization conditions. Any water that is introduced into the process can be recycled in a closed-loop system as opposed to being dumped as run-off sewage.
For example, medical device manufacturers design their sterilization processes for an extremely low SAL, such as 10 −6, which is a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of a non-sterile unit. SAL also describes the killing efficacy of a sterilization process. A very effective sterilization process has a very low SAL.
Autoclave tape is an adhesive tape used in autoclaving (heating under high pressure with steam to sterilise) to indicate whether a specific temperature has been reached. [1] Autoclave tape works by changing color after exposure to temperatures commonly used in sterilization processes, typically 121°C in a steam autoclave.