Autoclave Questions Answered

An autoclave is a type of steriliser that uses pressurised steam. In clinics the two words are used for the same machine; “sterilizer” is the American spelling of “steriliser”.

A Class B autoclave. Dental handpieces are hollow and instruments are usually stored in pouches, and only a Class B vacuum cycle is proven to sterilise those loads.

Most GP clinics are well served by a 17 to 23 litre tabletop unit. Count the instruments in your busiest session and check they fit the trays with room for steam to circulate.

Typically 30 to 60 minutes for a full cycle including drying. The hold time itself is at least 3 minutes at 134 °C or 15 minutes at 121 °C.

No. UV cabinets do not reliably sterilise instruments, especially surfaces in shadow, lumens or inside pouches. Instruments that enter sterile tissue need steam sterilisation or another validated sterilisation method.

Distilled or deionised water with low mineral content, as specified by the manufacturer. Tap water leaves scale that damages valves and stains instruments.

A steriliser sold for reprocessing medical devices is a medical device and must be registered with the Medical Device Authority before it is placed on the market. Ask the supplier for the registration number.

No. The price depends on class, chamber size, brand, accessories and the exchange rate on the day, so we quote in writing for your exact configuration.

Both. “Steriliser” is British and Malaysian spelling; “sterilizer” is American. They mean the same machine.

No. Baby-bottle and UV home sterilisers are not validated to sterilise medical instruments and are not registered as medical devices for that purpose.

The tabletop steam autoclave, usually a Class B unit of 17 to 23 litres.

For wrapped or hollow loads, yes — only Class B is proven for them. For unwrapped solid instruments used straight away, a Class N unit can be adequate and costs less.

Ask for the manufacturer’s EN 13060 declaration and look for a fractionated vacuum cycle, a vacuum pump and built-in Bowie-Dick or helix tests.

Usually a little, because of the vacuum pulses and vacuum drying, but loads come out dry and ready to store.

Size by your largest single load — usually the waste bag or media volume per day. 50 to 80 litre vertical units are common in university and hospital labs.

Yes, if it has a liquids cycle with controlled exhaust and you use vented closures. Never autoclave sealed bottles.

For accredited or GMP labs, yes — installation, operational and performance qualification under ISO 17665 principles, and periodic re-validation.

No. Tape only shows the item was exposed to a cycle. Use internal integrators and routine spore tests for evidence of sterilisation.

Typically at the start of each day, before the first load, on vacuum sterilisers.

Geobacillus stearothermophilus, whose spores are highly resistant to steam.

It is strongly recommended. Steam cannot sterilise through blood, tissue or debris, and ultrasonic cleaning reaches hinges and serrations that brushing misses.

Keep it on the clean side, away from splash. The flow should go from dirty sink to clean bench to autoclave to storage.

It depends on volume, but it must allow separate dirty and clean zones. Even a small clinic benefits from a dedicated corner rather than a shared bench.

Kelas B mempunyai pam vakum, sensor tambahan dan program ujian seperti Bowie-Dick dan ujian kebocoran vakum. Komponen inilah yang membolehkannya mensteril alat berbungkus dan berongga.

Bergantung pada beban anda. Jika alat disimpan dalam pouch atau ada alat berongga, hanya Kelas B yang terbukti sesuai, walau apa pun harganya.

Air suling atau ternyahion, elektrik, penunjuk kimia dan biologi, pouch, seal pintu, penapis dan servis tahunan termasuk kalibrasi.

Tunggu sehingga mesin menunjukkan kitaran selesai dan tekanan kembali normal; kebanyakan mesin mengunci pintu sehingga itu. Gunakan sarung tangan tahan haba kerana dulang dan alat masih panas.

Anggap pek itu tidak steril dan proses semula. Punca biasa ialah muatan berlebihan, kualiti air yang rendah atau penapis tersumbat.

Ya bagi autoclave vakum (Kelas B), biasanya pada awal hari sebelum beban pertama. Jangan gunakan mesin untuk alat pesakit jika ujian gagal.

No. A large chamber run half-empty uses more water and power per cycle, and an overfilled small chamber dries poorly. Size to your busiest session.

Yes, if the full cycle time with drying still fits between patient sessions. Ask for full-load cycle times, not empty-chamber figures.

Both sizes are common as Class B, and some makers also sell them as Class N or Class S. Confirm the EN 13060 class of the exact model quoted.

Not on its own. The same chamber size can come in versions with and without a vacuum pump, so check the full model code and the EN 13060 class on the declaration.

Tuttnauer is an autoclave manufacturer founded in Israel. Ask the local supplier for the declaration of conformity and MDA registration of the exact model.

Only if the model is registered with the MDA for that use and proven for wrapped instrument loads. Lab units are usually chosen for media, liquids and waste.

Not usually. The same tabletop classes and sizes are used; what matters is the load, and wrapped packs, textiles and hollow instruments need Class B.

Yes, in a Class B unit proven for porous loads, packed loosely so steam can penetrate. Stay within the maker’s maximum textile load.

Many single-surgeon clinics choose 18 to 23 litres. Size by the largest surgical pack you need to fit and the number of packs on your busiest day.

It can be, if it passes leak, air-removal and spore tests after a professional service and calibration. Without service records and test results, treat it as unproven.

Ask for the model and serial number, age, service and calibration history, why it is being sold and whether parts are still available. Ask to see a test cycle run.

We do not list used units. Tell us your load and we can quote suitable new units so you can compare them against a used offer.