Validoline biological spore test, 20 vials

The spore test is the most direct check on an autoclave: instead of measuring temperature and steam, it shows whether the cycle has actually killed highly resistant microorganisms. Each vial holds bacterial spores on a paper carrier and, kept separate, a culture medium with a pH indicator.

Place the vial in the chamber with the normal load and start a cycle at 121 °C or 134 °C. At the end of the cycle take it out carefully, as it is hot and still under pressure, and let it cool for about ten minutes. Then activate it by squeezing it between your fingers, holding it upright, so the medium wets the spores; the label, changed from blue to black, confirms that the vial has been through the cycle.

Next comes incubation at 57 °C for 24 hours, with a first check after 12, next to a control vial that has been activated but not sterilised. If there is no growth in the processed vial, the spores have been killed and the cycle worked; if there is growth, the cycle was not effective. Incubation requires a spore test incubator.

Features

• Biological indicator for saturated steam sterilisation
• Spores and culture medium in the same vial, no laboratory analysis
• Process indicator on the label, from blue to black
• Suitable for all types of steam autoclave

Technical data

• Cycles that can be checked: 121 °C and 134 °C
• Incubation: 57 °C for 24 hours, first check at 12 hours
• Pack: 20 vials