Loading Equipment

• A technician begins the autoclave process by placing the equipment or instruments to be sterilized in pans or polypropylene bags that can withstand high heat. The equipment is loaded into the autoclave and the door to the device is closed to prevent escape of steam.
  
  

Function

• Most autoclaves offer several different cycles from which the technician can select depending on the types of equipment that are being sterilized. During the cycle the autoclave will fill with high-pressure steam at temperatures well above the boiling point of water; the steam will saturate all the instruments and destroy microorganisms to make the equipment sterile. Afterward, the technician will allow the autoclave to return to normal pressure before opening the door and removing the equipment.
  
  

Considerations

• Materials that are volatile, corrosive or pose a fire or explosion hazard are not autoclaved because of the danger that they could ignite. The autoclave needs to maintain a temperature over 250 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 minutes to sterilize most biohazardous waste.