Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Biological Indicator

When you monitor every load, you provide the same level of care to each and every patient served by your department

Product description: 

• PURTEC EO Biological Indicators for EO The self-contained (BI) for all EO cycles consists of a Bacillus atrophaeus spore strip; sealed glass ampule with growth medium and bromothymol blue pH indicator dye system; and green color-coded cap.

• Used to monitor ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization processes.

• The presence of Geobacillus.stearothermophilus(ATCC7372)spores is detected by a visual color change (media turns yellow). The yellow color change indicates a sterilization process failure. The final readout of a negative result (media remains purple) is made after 24 hours of incubation.  
  

Directions for use: 

1. Identify the Biological Indicator by writing the sterilizer number , load number, and processing date on the label.

2. Pack the biological indicator along with materials to be sterilized in an appropriate package according to recommended sterilization practices. Place the package in those areas which you consider a priori most inaccessible for the sterilizing agent (steam). Generally, a problematic area is the center of the load or near the door.

3. Sterilize as usual.

4. After the sterilization process has finished, open the sterilizer door, wait five minutes and remove the biological indicator from the package. CAUTION! Wear safety glasses and gloves when removing the Biological Indicator from the sterilized package. WARNING! Do not crush or handle the biological indicator excessively, since this might cause the glass ampoule to burst.

5. Let the biological indicator cool until it reaches room temperature.

6. Check the chemical indicator on the label of the biological indicator. A color change to black indicates that the biological indicator has been exposed to steam. IMPORTANT: This color change does not evidence the process effectiveness to achieve sterility. If the chemical indicator color has not changed, it is necessary to check the sterilization process.

7. Press the cap to seal the tube. Then, break the ampoule contained within the biological indicator by an ampoule crusher.

8. Incubate the processed biological indicator and the indicator used as positive control for a maximum of 24 hours at 56±2 ℃for the readout.

Record the results and discard biological indicators immediately as explained below.

Do not reuse the sterilizer until the biological indicator test result is negative.