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The quality control process for autoclaves is important to prevent the transmission of infection.

 

It is done to ensure that sterilization or decontamination by the autoclave​ is up to the mark.

To ensure that biohazardous waste is properly decontaminated during autoclaving, the following procedures should be followed by laboratory personnel for quality control during autoclaving:

A. Use of Chemical Indicator

 

  • With each load of sterilization, an autoclave tape needs to be used (Figure 1)
  • The autoclave tape is a visible temperature sensitive chemical indicator, with stripes that change colour after proper autoclaving is done (Figure 2)

Figure 1: Autoclave tape used on the load of material to be sterilized

 

 

Figure 2: Change in the colour of strips in the autoclave tape before and after proper autoclaving 

 

 

Note: Temperature sensitive autoclave tape is not sufficient on its own to indicate that the sterilization temperature (121ºC), is uniformly achieved throughout the chamber.  ​

B. Biological Indicator (BI)​

Biological indicators are used for checking the quality of autoclaving on a monthly basis, even if the autoclave has a paper printed monitoring system for autoclave effectiveness. The results need to be documented and kept for at least one year. ​

Principle of Biological Indicators

  • Heat-resistant Geobacillus Stearothermophilus spores are used for autoclave efficiency testing
  • After autoclaving, the autoclaved spore vial is incubated in a culture along with a non-autoclaved control vial at 56-60ºC
  • The control biological indicator should yield positive results for bacterial growth and the autoclaved biological indicator should not show any growth (see Figure 3)

 

Figure 3: Showing effective use of the biological indicator

 

 

Figure 4: Steps to follow when using biological indicators

 

 

Reading and Recording

  • Record details of the loading and of the autoclave’s operation in the autoclave logbook
  • Incidents, accidents and/or mechanical problems must be recorded and reported to a supervisor immediately

Figure 5: Autoclave Logbook

 

 

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