08/09/2026
How do you KNOW the autoclave is actually sterilising properly? 😬
Just because it says "Sterilising Complete" on the screen doesn't mean the items inside actually got sterilised. We need to regularly test and confirm that it's actually killing any micro-organisms inside.
The little colour-changing indicator on the autoclave bag doesn't mean sterile, just that it's been exposed to certain conditions. It's handy to show what has been processed and what hasn't (so nobody mixes up sterile with non-sterile), but it doesn't guarantee sterility inside.
Spore tests provide unequivocal proof.
APP and AUPP members are required to run spore tests (or an equivalent) at least once a month.
We have ours done by a third party (so we can't fake it!) once per fortnight, mainly because we don't get the results back any sooner than that anyway.
If you only tested yearly, you could have months and months of cycles that weren't sterilising properly.
Unfortunately, in Tassie, and most of Australia, we're also operating under horrendously outdated health codes (remind me to get it a birthday cake with 30 candles next year), so we need to look to organisations like the APP/AUPP for more up-to-date, evidence-based practices.
Also its really fun to practice saying "geobacillus stearothermophilus" 🦠
