Take the stress out of autoclave testing and validation

Autoclaves are essential in the day-to-day running of a dental practice to ensure reusable surgical instruments, handpieces and medical devices are made safe for use on patients and for handling by the dental team. Infection control is often a task undertaken by dental nurses, so in an already busy schedule it is vital that autoclaves stay fully operational. Even minor problems can lead to downtime, causing health and safety implications and inconvenience to patients and staff.

Pay attention

Like any piece of dental equipment, autoclaves need regular attention to ensure they are functioning correctly and that infection control standards are being met. All vacuum (B and S class) and non-vacuum (N class) autoclaves require routine testing and maintenance at pre-defined intervals that fall into three main categories: daily, weekly and annual tests. Daily and weekly tests can be carried out in-house by practice teams, while annual testing (servicing) and validation can only be carried out by a qualified engineer.