Bowie Dick Test
Bowie-Dick test detect air leaks, inadequate air removal and steam
penetration for vacuum-assisted steam sterilizers.
Bowie-Dick Tests are used for equipment control as a way to find
out whether or not your autoclave sterilizer is doing its job properly.
Bowie-Dick test packs should be used daily, after an autoclave sterilizer
is installed, relocated, after sterilizer malfunction, after sterilization
process failures, and after any major repairs of the sterilizer.
The Bowie-Dick (BD) test was developed to detect air leaks and
to evaluate the ability of the air removal system to reduce air
residuals within the sterilization chamber to an accept able level.
It is not an absolute air or vacuum measurement system. The Bowie-Dick
test sheet is a visual indicator test that may be used as a predictor
of future air removal problems in that any unsatisfactory outcome
may be anticipated to get worse with continued use of the autoclave
sterilizer.
The recommended practice for dynamic-air-removal steam sterilizers
(i.e., prevacuum steam sterilizers) is to evaluate the efficacy
of the air removal system with a BD test daily before the sterilizer
is put into service. It is also recommended that the BD test be
carried out during initial installation and after relocation of
the sterilizer, after an autoclave sterilizer malfunction, sterilization
process failures and major repairs. For this testing three consecutive
empty chamber cycles should be tested and all BD test sheets show
a uniform color change before the sterilizer is placed into use.
Uniformity of color change over the entire surface of the test
sheet is the critical parameter to be evaluated. Nonuniformity of
color change, particularly in the center portion of the sheet, is
the criterion for a failure. The geometric pattern of the test sheet
is intended to assist the reader in discerning any nonuniformity
of change.
The Bowie-Dick Test should be performed prior to the first batch
of the day, and the responsible operator is to record the results
in the Sterilizer Log System. If the test proves negative the autoclave
sterilizer is to be shut down and "corrective action taken."
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