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autoclave.myby AA Alive Sdn Bhd
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Also called: Bowie-Dick, Autoclave tape, Spore test

Autoclave Testing: Bowie-Dick, Indicators and Validation

The daily, weekly and yearly checks that prove your autoclave is sterilising — and what autoclave tape and pouches can and cannot tell you.

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The testing schedule

WhenTestWhat it proves
Every cyclePrintout or log; pack indicatorsThe cycle reached its parameters; the pack was processed
Daily (vacuum units)Bowie-Dick or helix testAir removal and steam penetration work
Daily or weeklyVacuum leak testThe chamber holds vacuum
Weekly and after repairsBiological (spore) testSpores are actually killed
YearlyService, calibration, re-validationSensors and controls are accurate

Chemical indicators, in order of strength

  • Autoclave tape (process indicator): shows the item went through a cycle — nothing more.
  • Pouch indicators: same purpose, printed on the pouch.
  • Multi-variable indicators and integrators (ISO 11140-1 types 4–6): respond to time, temperature and steam together; place them inside packs.

Sterilisation pouches

  • Use pouches made for steam sterilisation, sealed properly (self-seal or heat-sealed).
  • Do not overfill — steam must reach every surface.
  • Label with date and cycle number so any failed load can be recalled.
  • Store dry, off the floor, away from sinks.

Validation

Validation (installation, operational and performance qualification) proves a specific autoclave sterilises your specific loads. ISO 17665 sets out the requirements for moist-heat sterilisation. Clinics usually rely on the manufacturer’s type-testing plus routine monitoring; hospitals, labs and manufacturers validate on site.

Related guides

Steam Sterilizer: How Steam Sterilisation WorksTemperatures, pressures, air removal and the common reasons a steam sterilisation load fails — explained for clinic and CSSD buyers.Autoclave Maintenance: Daily, Weekly and Annual ChecklistMost autoclave failures start with water, seals or skipped tests. This checklist keeps a clinic or lab steriliser passing — and lasting.Clinic Sterilisation Room Setup: Dirty-to-Clean WorkflowAn autoclave only sterilises what has been properly cleaned and packed. Here is how to lay out a clinic reprocessing area that works.

Autoclave supply near you

Delivery, installation and training across Malaysia from Batu Caves, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

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Frequently asked questions

Does autoclave tape mean the item is sterile?
No. Tape only shows the item was exposed to a cycle. Use internal integrators and routine spore tests for evidence of sterilisation.
How often should a Bowie-Dick test be done?
Typically at the start of each day, before the first load, on vacuum sterilisers.
What organism is used in autoclave spore tests?
Geobacillus stearothermophilus, whose spores are highly resistant to steam.

Get a written quotation

Tell us your clinic or lab type, daily workload and location. We match suitable models and send a written quotation with delivery, installation and training spelled out.