Our newest product category,

, features several items with different methods for determining if your lab materials have been properly sterilized. So to avoid confusion in what can be a life-or-death matter, we’ve pulled together some resources from the manufacturer of this line, 3M Health Care. This product line can be broken down into three categories: Physical monitors, chemical indicators, and biological indicators. Because each type has its own unique advantages and disadvantages, the organizations that publish guidelines for sterilization, such as the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAMI (Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation), recommend a combination of these monitoring types to get a clear picture of the sterilization process. Let’s break down each type of sterilization monitor and its pros and cons:

  • Physical monitors – Includes gauges, electric readouts, etc.
    • Pros – Provides real time information.
    • Cons – Can only monitor one location at a time.
  • Chemical indicators – Usually specialized inks coated onto paper, plastic or foil.
    • Pros – Provides immediate feedback; size and cost allow for multiple placements.
    • Cons – Does not indicate lethality.
  • Biological indicators – Contains a large number of viable microorganisms (generally bacterial spores) that are known to resist a particular sterilization process.
    • Pros – Provides a direct indication of lethality.
    • Cons – Requires incubation before final results can be obtained.

If you’d like to learn more about sterilization monitors, you can check out our catalog, as well as this self-study series that 3M Health Care published in this month’s Healthcare Purchasing News. They even included a test you can send in to them to see how much you know about sterilization in the medical field.