In dental practises, sterilization is very important, both for the protection of patients and operators, as these are areas where contact is frequently made with potentially infected mucous membranes and blood.
For all types of loads and cycles, the EN 13060 standard requires
users to verify that their autoclave is functioning properly by carrying out tests:
- To check that the autoclave is functioning properly, the Vacuum Test, Bowie & Dick Test and Helix Test are carried out before the autoclave is used;
- Biological and chemical checks (sterilisation indicators) are performed during the sterilization cycle to ascertain whether or not sterilisation parameters are met.
The Bowie & Dick test enables you to ensure that air is properly removed from the sterilisation chamber and, as a result, that porous loads are fully penetrated with steam (e.g. surgical bandanas or gowns).
With the Bowie & Dick test, the device is run and sterilisation of porous loads is evaluated, particularly:
- the effectiveness of the initial vacuum phase and, therefore, how well steam penetrates cavities;
- the temperature and pressure of saturated steam during the sterilisation phase.
