Instrument care and sterilisation

Question 1

What are the key different methods for sterilsation?

Answer 1

• moist heat - includes simple vertical pressure cookers, downward displacement autoclaves, and vacuum assisted autoclaves
• dry heat
• ethylene oxide chambers

Question 2

At what temperature, time and pressures are vacuum assisted autoclaves normally used?

Answer 2

15lbs PSI @ 121 degrees for 15 minutes
20lbs PSI @ 126 degrees for 10 minutes
30lbs PSI @ 134 degrees for 3.5 minutes

Question 3

What is created when water is present in an ethylene oxide chamber?

Answer 3

Ethylene glycol

Question 4

What colours do Browns tubes change from and to?

Answer 4

They are red prior to sterilisation and turn green after sterilisation. They are single use