In medical facilities, the need to sterilize medical instruments is frequent. Items such as thermometers, biopsy forceps, catheters, syringes, as well as surgical instruments must be free from germs so that the safety of the patient as well as the healthcare staff can be ensured. For this purpose, autoclave sterilizers are employed which effectively clean the equipment within a minimum time. As autoclaves are highly important in medical facilities, many companies manufacture them but the buyers are often confused about how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer.
Due to this diversity of products, learning how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer for your needs becomes difficult. Therefore, to assist the buyers, the following article provides a guide on how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer for your medical facility.
Choose the Right Autoclave Sterilizer
To understand how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer, one must go through the following parameters:
1. Size and Dimensions of the Autoclave Chamber
Autoclaves are available in small, medium, as well as large sizes. Therefore, while understanding how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer for your medical facility, it is important to make an estimation of the space you have for installing a sterilizer as well as the size of the autoclave chamber.
This way, one can decide which product should be chosen depending on the dedicated space that can be offered for the device. However, if the facility requires a large number of instruments to be sterilized multiple times a day, it is best to get a large-sized autoclave sterilizer as it can fit a lot of stuff.
2. Benchtop and Vertical Options
Autoclave sterilizers come in two forms i.e. benchtop ones which have a door in front of the user. These resemble microwaves in their appearance. The advantage they provide is that the insertion and removal of materials is easy. These autoclaves have metal trays to hold the items. As for the vertical sterilizers, the opening is at the top of the machine. These are ideal for sterilizing glassware. While learning how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer for your facility, the available space as well as other requirements must be kept in mind.
3. Sterilizer Class
Autoclave sterilizers are divided into multiple classes. These include:
| Sterilizer Class | Instruments Sterilized | Limitations | Suitable Location |
| N (Naked sterilizers) | Solid, unwrapped tools and instruments that do not have intricate designs or patterns | Not suitable for wrapped instruments with internal channels or holes | Dental facilities Beauty salons |
| S (Special sterilizers) | Wrapped instruments and clothes | Not suitable for complex or porous instruments | Dental facilities Labs Clinics |
| B (Big/small sterilizers) | Advanced surgical instruments | Expensive with high maintenance requirements | Hospitals Dental clinics Labs |
While making a purchase for a medical facility, class B autoclave sterilizers should be preferred.
4. Load Capacity
Another essential factor is to keep in mind the number of items that are to be sterilized in the autoclave in a single cycle. Based on this, the suitable chamber size can be determined which can help you choose the right size of autoclave sterilizer for your medical facility.
5. Nature of Load
In addition to estimating the number of instruments to be sterilized per day, the type of instruments should also be considered. For instance, instruments that have intricate structures can be sterilized with class B sterilizers. In the case of cloths, class S sterilizers are necessary.
6. Ease of Usage
Apart from having the right size of the product, it is also essential to find out how easy it is to use the device. If the employment process of the sterilizer is difficult and time-consuming, this might not be the right device as time is always short in medical facilities.
Among autoclaves, both manual as well as automated options are available. The personnel need some time to learn how to use the manual devices without any errors while the automated ones can be understood in no time.
Moreover, the automated systems also keep digital documentation for the sterilization log. Most functions are pre-programmed in them and the user just needs to click the required settings to start the process. Overall, a good autoclave sterilizer should be easy to use and should not require daily standardization. Moreover, one must keep in mind the skills of the user while learning how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer.
7. Cycle Time
Cycle time is the measure of time duration needed to complete sterilization once. The higher the cycle time, the longer the autoclave sterilizer will take to sterilize products. This will also increase the cost of the process as the power requirements will likely be higher as well. In general, the autoclave sterilizers have the following cycle times. One must choose a device with a suitable cycle time after thorough research to understand how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer.
| Cycle Program | Load Type | Cycle Time (min) |
| Unwrapped 134 | Unwrapped instruments | 21 |
| Wrapped 134 | Wrapped instruments | 25 |
| Unwrapped 121 | Unwrapped delicate instruments | 32 |
| Wrapped 121 | Wrapped delicate instruments | 45 |
8. Drying Time
As an autoclave sterilizer uses steam to sterilize the items, the products have moisture after the process has been completed. If not dried, this moisture can increase the chance of fungal growth in the items thus leading to severe contamination.
To prevent this risk, there is a need to dry the items after sterilization. Therefore, while learning how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer, the drying feature of the machines should be evaluated. Most autoclaves have a dedicated drying time after each cycle. This can be as minimum as 1 minute for unwrapped products and can be higher in the case of wrapped items i.e. 15 min.
9. Accessories
Another factor that needs to be considered while buying the right autoclave sterilizer is to look for the accessories that come with it. Some sterilizers have strong racks and trays for holding the instruments. Moreover, these trays should also be removable so that they can be cleaned and changed in their location to fit items of various sizes. In addition, USB ports should also be present for transferring digital records.
10. Safety Mechanisms
In an autoclave, high temperatures are to be achieved to generate steam which then sterilizes the equipment. If this steam leaks out of the system, the personnel at work can be seriously harmed. To avoid these accidental leaks, many autoclave sterilizers come with door-lock features.
This keeps the door locked from the time the device starts generating steam. Until the sterilization process has been completed and the temperature inside the chamber has decreased, these locked doors cannot be opened. This way, the personnel stays extra protected. Hence, while comprehending how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer, safety features must be looked for.
11. Maintenance Requirements
No matter how expensive or good your autoclave sterilizer is, its daily maintenance is still needed. This mainly involves cleaning the interior chamber. In addition, validation tests are also needed to be performed on a frequent basis to ensure the device is working as claimed. Keeping this in mind, it is good to get an autoclave sterilizer which is easy to clean and maintain as some designs are easier to handle than others.
12. Cost
The cost of an autoclave sterilizer is also an essential thing to look into before making a purchase. In general, manual autoclaves are comparatively cheaper than the automated ones. Therefore, while learning how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer, one should decide on a product after doing a careful analysis of the features.
Autoclave Sterilizers at Health Supply 770: Products and Features
Autoclave sterilizers are the machines that are employed for cleaning medical and dental instruments. These are necessary because they render items germ-free and thus the risk of any kind of contamination is completely eliminated. In addition to bacteria, autoclaves also work against viruses, fungal spores, protozoal entities, etc. This is particularly important to know while learning how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer.
Owing to the extensive uses these autoclave sterilizers have in multiple industries, many companies manufacture and market them. In this regard, different kinds of autoclave sterilizers are available at Health Supply 770 which have been detailed below along with their prices and purchase links to ease the buying process once you have figured out how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer.
8 L Dental Lab Autoclave Sterilizer Medical Steam Sterilization Drying Function
$1,250.99
Product Details
While learning how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer for your lab or medical facility, preference should be given to these 8 L Dental Lab autoclave sterilizers. These are the items that are employed for sterilizing medical supplies in hospitals, clinics, dental facilities, etc. Moreover, their employment in beauty salons is also common.
The autoclave capacity is up to 18 liters and these are manufactured in China. These can be run for two time durations i.e. 6 min as well as 25 min and the sterilization pressure values which can be set are 0.12 Mpa and 0.23 Mpa.
In 8 L Dental Lab autoclave sterilizers, the drying time is up to 40 min and the product has stainless steel built which is known for its durability and reliability. The dimensions of the products are Φ 250 x D 350 mm with an autoclave machine size of 60 x 39 x 36 cm. Moreover, this product can be operated at two different temperatures i.e. at 122°C and 134°C.
When it comes to their capacity, these 8 L Dental Lab autoclave sterilizers can hold a massive amount of items which indicates higher load capacity. In addition, the heater power is up to 1000 W. Owing to their features, these autoclave sterilizers can be employed in laboratories as well.
Automatically Dental Medical 18 L Tabletop Autoclaves, Vacuum Steam Sterilization
$932.99
Product Details
Automatically dental medical 18 L tabletop autoclaves have stronger built as they are constructed with stainless steel. The temperature options include both 121°C and 134°C while the pressure values at these temperatures are 0.12 Mpa and 0.22 Mpa in respective manner.
The time this device takes to sterilize the loaded items is either 6 min or 25 min which is often a preferred time duration while learning how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer for your facility.
As for the interior chamber of these vacuum steam sterilizers, it has a value of Ø 25 × D 35 cm or Ø 9.84 × D 13.78 inches. The load capacity of these smaller autoclaves is up to 18 liters while the power needed to run these Automatically dental medical 18L autoclave sterilizers is up to 1000 W.
In addition, the safety mechanisms fitted into these systems allow heating-over protection which ensures the safety of personnel. It is also easy to disinfect these devices and clean them on a daily basis. The accessories are also of good quality and in ample amounts which is a key factor when it comes to learning how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer for your medical and dental facility.
Midmark Corporat M9-022 Autoclave, Ultraclave Ritter M9001 Automat 9″X15″
Product Details
Midmark Corporat M9-022 autoclave ultra clave Ritter M9001 Automat 9″ x 15″ is a steam sterilizer that can provide multiple options for sterilization temperature. The range is from 230 to 275 degrees and allows the users to decide which temperature they need to set. The time required for sterilization is between 3 to 90 min.
In addition, the vent settings of these items can be adjusted at either fast or slow. The two trays which come with this device are large and hold maximum items while the two smaller ones are for minor items. Moreover, the volume capacity of the system is up to 3.5 gallons. Overall, the product is reliable and highly durable. So, if you are confused about how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer, these Midmark systems might be the right products for you.
*Note: The prices mentioned in the article for autoclave sterilizers are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary over time.
All types of autoclave sterilizer sizes mentioned in the article, along with many other medical supplies, can be ordered from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the links given in the article to check out the wide range of autoclave sterilizers.
Bottom Line
Autoclave sterilizers are necessary in medical and dental facilities to clean the equipment and make it germ-free. These are essential as they reduce the risk of contamination and subsequently infections. Multiple brands of sterilizers are available in the US market all of which have high efficiency and excellent autoclave performance. One must learn how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer after going through the features and specifications of these products.
While choosing the right autoclave sterilizer, the factors that need to be considered include the size and dimensions of the product, cycle and drying times, maintenance requirements, safety features, as well as cost of the product. After careful analysis of the specifications as well as the requirements of the facilities, a product should be decided on.
Keeping in mind the usefulness of autoclave sterilizers, these must be installed for medical and dental practices as well as in beauty salons. In this regard, for purchasing different kinds of devices after learning how to choose the right autoclave sterilizer, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.
PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.
Uzma Zafar is a dedicated and highly motivated pharmaceutical professional currently pursuing her PhD in Pharmaceutics at the Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab. With a comprehensive academic and research background, Uzma has consistently excelled in her studies, securing first division throughout her educational journey.
Uzma’s passion for the pharmaceutical field is evident from her active engagement during her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) program, where she not only mastered industrial techniques and clinical case studies but also delved into marketing strategies and management skills.
