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Steam Sterilization

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Steam offers unmatched advantages for sterilization. For more than 100 years, it’s been the go-to sterilant for reliable and inexpensive performance in sterilizing items that are not damaged by high heat, such as scalpels and scissors. But how do you ensure that your steam sterilizer is effectively working to keep instruments safe?

Ensuring the safety of sterilized items takes more than just following procedures. Tests for efficacy of the process are a critical component to making sure every instrument is safe to use on patients. As a leader in the field, 3M has been developing and improving technology for sterilization assurance for decades. We can offer a full portfolio of sterilization assurance products including biological indicators (BI), chemical indicators (CI), tape and other accessories for load, pack and exposure monitoring. We can partner with you to provide expert support, education and service. As an independent manufacturer of sterilization assurance products, 3M creates products that can be used to test the efficacy of a variety of sterilization systems and produce unbiased results.

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3M™ Attest™ Mini Auto-reader 490M
We have a smaller auto-reader available to meet your multi-facility or department needs.
- Easy-to-read display
- Small footprint for space-constrained areas
- No-hassle, AnyWell technology - use any well for compatible 3M™ Attest™ BIs*
*The 3M™ Attest™ Mini Auto-reader 490M is compatible with 3M™ Attest™ Biological Indicators 1491, 1492V and 1295. Sterilization cycles must align with a biological indicator's instructions for use.

When medical instruments and implants arrive into your care, you know how long they’re going to take to sterilize, and how quickly they’ll be needed. It’s your job to ensure they are sterilized and safe for patient use.

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Steps for Steam Sterilization Monitoring

Equipment monitoring

Find out whether or not your sterilizer is doing its job properly. To monitor vacuum-assisted steam sterilizers, you begin each day with a Bowie-Dick (B&D) type test to detect air leaks, inadequate air removal, inadequate steam penetration and the presence of non-condensable gases, any of which can compromise sterility.

Equipment monitoring

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Load monitoring

A load is monitored and released based on the final negative result of a Biological Indicator (BI) in a Process Challenge Device (PCD). According to the CSA Z314.3-14 standard, a BI is required daily for each steam sterilizer and cycle type used, as well as in every load that contains an implant. Only a BI can detect the actual killing of microbial spores inside the sterilizer.

Load monitoring

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Pack monitoring

Products verify whether a sterilant has penetrated to the point where the Chemical Indicator (CI) was placed in the pack. These Type 4, 5 or 6 CIs are designed to react to two or more of the critical variables required for sterilization to occur—for steam sterilization, the critical variables are time, temperature and the presence of steam.

Pack monitoring

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Exposure monitoring

Products allow anyone to see at a glance whether packs have been exposed to the sterilization process. Usually consisting of tapes or labels, these ISO Type 1 Process Indicators undergo a colour change when exposed to the sterilant. As the “adhesive company”, 3M created pressure-sensitive tapes that make 3M indicator tapes excellent choices for reliable adhesion.

Exposure monitoring

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Record keeping

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Education Resources

Continuous learning with convenient and relevant training is top of mind for sterile processing managers and technicians. Get real-world advice, backed by science, from industry experts.

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Identifying Areas of Potential Infection Risk

3M is here to support you with holistic, science- and evidence-based solutions, guidelines, best practices, and staff education to help you reduce the risk of infection complications and minimize inefficiencies in many areas that support your ongoing healthcare-associated Infections (HAI) efforts.

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Why Steam?

Why Steam?

Steam is the leading sterilant. Here's why.

For sterilization purposes, steam offers unmatched advantages. It's cheap, it's non-toxic and it's proven. For more than 100 years, it's been the go-to sterilant for reliable performance. It's an effective, efficient and inexpensive method for sterilizing items that are not damaged by high heat, such as scalpels and scissors.

However, steam is not recommended for every situation. As medical equipment becomes increasingly sophisticated, there are more items that require low-temperature sterilants such as hydrogen peroxide and ethylene oxide.
3M Innovations

3M Innovations

3M innovations are helping to revolutionize sterilization assurance.

Ensuring the safety of sterilized items takes more than just following procedures. Tests for efficacy of the process are a critical component to making sure every instrument is safe to use on patients. As a leader in the field, 3M has been developing and improving technology for sterilization assurance for decades.

Our comprehensive 3M™ Attest™ Biological Indicator product portfolio provides sterilization assurance monitoring solutions across three modalities: steam, vapourized hydrogen peroxide (VH2O2) and Ethylene Oxide (EO).

With the 3M™ Attest™ Bl system, you get consistent equipment, interfaces, supporting materials, processes and training, to help reduce the risk of human error and help teams work more effectively. In addition, you gain access to service, support, training and 70 years of sterilization assurance experience. 3M backs its sterilization assurance technology and products with teams of technical and support experts.
Complete Systems

Complete Systems

A complete system for sterilization assurance.

3M offers biological indicators (Bl), chemical indicators (Cl), tape and other accessories for load, pack, and exposure monitoring:

Biological Indicators (Bl)
BIs contain a known number of live microorganisms and are used to assess the efficacy of a sterilization cycle. AAMI standards define Bls, as the only sterilization process monitoring device that provides a direct measure of the lethality of the process.1,2 Releasing every load based on a Bl result is recognized as a best practice, and faster Bl results make it even easier to do.

Chemical Indicators (CI)
Internal pack monitoring is a crucial step in any sterilization process. Chemical indicators (Cls) give you the information you need about the exposure conditions achieved within a pack, tray, container or peel pouch. A chemical indicator placed inside a pack can let you know if sterilization conditions have penetrated to the point of placement.

Indicator Tapes
3M™ Comply™ Indicator tapes act as an exposure monitor that securely seals packs while providing assurance that the package has been exposed to the steam sterilization process. The Chemical Indicator lines will show a visual colour change from off-white/tan to dark brown/black when the tape is exposed to a steam sterilization process.

1. ANSI/AAMI ST79:2017 Comprehensive guide to steam sterilization and sterility assurance in health care facilities.
2. CAN/CSA-Z314-18 BIs provide a direct measure of the lethality of the sterilization process.

Medical doctor wearing a stethoscope speaking with a 3M medical sterilization specialist.

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