Sterilization tests

[Guest]

I need help,I work for a hospital that runs their Bowie Dick and BI in the same cycle to do their daily testing. I was always taught that you run the Bowie Dick alone at 3 1/2 mins and zero dry time and the BI must be run in the first load of the day in order to challenge it. Anyone else out there doing it this way? Also if you are running a BI in the OR sterilizers how do you challenge it when they run it in an empty load? I need help to make them understand this, I had my sales rep come out to inservice but the OR staff did not come due to staffing issues. How do I make them understand when they are not even willing to come to the inservices?

[Guest]

I was taught that the B.I. is to be run preferably in a different load each day, and the Bowie to be run first thing in the a.m.(empty autoclave) before any loads are run.
All the Bowie does is test your air removal and kind of give you an heads up on how your vaccuum is functioning before you even start sterilizing. I don't understand how the B.I. results have anything to do with that test. I was trained that each "indicator" (biologicals, integrators, tape) have thier own separate purpose in the whole sterilization process.
I would also like to know how to challenge a biological run in an empty load as our OR does the same!

[New SPD Manager]

It is my understanding that the Bowie Dick has to be run in an empty autoclave. Also, you're reasoning is good. Everywhere I have worked runs a bio with the first load of the day and with any loads including implants.

[amandahazel]

I need help,I work for a hospital that runs their Bowie Dick and BI in the same cycle to do their daily testing. I was always taught that you run the Bowie Dick alone at 3 1/2 mins and zero dry time and the BI must be run in the first load of the day in order to challenge it.

At the last three facilities I've work at, what you described above is accurate, and is the same way I was taught to run the "daily tests". As far as getting the OR staff to comply, that is an up hill battle and I wish you the best of luck!

[Guest]

In our facility, the OR educator has all the SPD departments running a biliogical in "every " load that is run in all pre-vac, gravity, ETO and Sterrad sterilizers, whether they have implants or not. To most of us this is a very costly process consdering how much $$$$ is spent on ordering biologicals for each of these types of machines. The educator says this came from policies from AAMI and from IAHCSMM, but it doesn't make any sense to do this if a BI is run on the first load or if a particular load has implants. Is there some kind of documentation that is actually written about running BI's on every single load? HELP!!!

[Nannette Braley]

AAMI Standard 46 7 - states "..BI test packs should be used routinely in sterilization loads at least weekly, but preferably every day..." And then - "Each load containing implantable devices should be monitored with a BI challenge test pack..." This is the guide we should follow. If there is concern that your sterilizer is not working properly and that is why they want one in each load that should be addressed. Good luck. :)