How to Validate an Autoclave: Steam Quality Testing

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Curabitur a felis in nunc fringilla tristique. Suspendisse non nisl sit amet velit hendrerit rutrum. Nullam tincidunt adipiscing enim. Phasellus accumsan cursus velit. Maecenas egestas arcu quis ligula mattis placerat.

Morbi nec metus. Vestibulum fringilla pede sit amet augue. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Ut non enim eleifend felis pretium feugiat. Praesent metus tellus, elementum eu, semper a, adipiscing nec, purus.

Headline version 3 fusce neque. Vivamus laoreet. Cras ultricies mi eu turpis hendrerit fringilla. Quisque ut nisi.

Curabitur a felis in nunc fringilla tristique. Suspendisse non nisl sit amet velit hendrerit rutrum. Nullam tincidunt adipiscing enim. Phasellus accumsan cursus velit. Maecenas egestas arcu quis ligula mattis placerat.

Morbi nec metus. Vestibulum fringilla pede sit amet augue. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Ut non enim eleifend felis pretium feugiat. Praesent metus tellus, elementum eu, semper a, adipiscing nec, purus.

Headline version 4 fusce neque. Vivamus laoreet. Cras ultricies mi eu turpis hendrerit fringilla. Quisque ut nisi.

Curabitur a felis in nunc fringilla tristique. Suspendisse non nisl sit amet velit hendrerit rutrum. Nullam tincidunt adipiscing enim. Phasellus accumsan cursus velit. Maecenas egestas arcu quis ligula mattis placerat.

Morbi nec metus. Vestibulum fringilla pede sit amet augue. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Ut non enim eleifend felis pretium feugiat. Praesent metus tellus, elementum eu, semper a, adipiscing nec, purus.

6 Important Questions to Ask When Purchasing a Refurbished Autoclave

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Purchasing a refurbished autoclave can be a smart investment — especially if you’re a fledgling laboratory or startup biotech company with limited funding. While going with a used autoclave may be less of an expenditure compared with a new purchase, selecting a refurbished autoclave should not be taken lightly.

For example, it’s important to ensure the autoclave has gone through the same strict safety testing and inspection protocols as a new sterilizer. In addition to safety, one should inquire about a variety of other factors as well.

This blog sums up the six most important questions to ask your vendor before purchasing a refurbished autoclave.

1. Is the vessel clean and free of pitting and corrosion?

Most autoclaves that come out of service are many years old and extremely dirty (i.e. have dried media on the chamber surface). When purchasing a refurbished autoclave, it’s critical that the chamber is cleaned and repolished to a high luster finish. Ask to see pictures and if the chamber is pitted in any way (small pits develop on stainless steel that has been corroded by chemicals, over time). If the chamber is pitted, DO NOTbuy this product.

2. Do you perform hydrostatic testing on your refurbished autoclaves?

Once repolished, make sure the chamber in your refurbished autoclave has gone through hydrostatic testing — a process that involves filling the chamber with water and pressurizing it to many times the normal operating pressure per the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) guidelines. Also known as a “hydro test”, this process is crucial to checking the integrity of the chamber welds.
Additionally, verify that the chamber has an ASME nameplate and national board number. Older chambers may not possess this nameplate and should not be “reused” in the field. In almost all jurisdictions within the USA, it is illegal to install an autoclave without proper ASME certifications and paperwork. Additionally, most insurance companies will require it.