Autoclave Sterilization Cycle or Autoclaving Process

Autoclave Sterilization Cycle : The autoclave is frequently used to sterilize various pieces of equipment and media in practical labs, businesses, and healthcare facilities.
Items are placed within an autoclave chamber under controlled temperature, pressure, and steam conditions for a predetermined amount of time, either wrapped or placed directly over the holding plate.
An autoclave functions basically similarly to a pressure cooker, which we frequently use to boil or cook food.
It could close the door or lid of an autoclave to create a sealed chamber similar to one in a pressure cooker.
Afterward, depending on the type of autoclave, air displacement systems like steam, steam flushes, and vacuum systems remove the air from the pressure vessel.
After then, by raising the autoclave’s temperature and killing power- ability, the pressure inside the device enables successful sterilization at the specified time.
After the media and equipment have been sterilized, release the steam.
There are three stages or Phases in the autoclave sterilization cycle as a result, depending on how an autoclave operates:

Autoclave Sterilization Cycle Process:

Additionally, it describes the as “Conditioning Phase”, which entails or required for displacing or removing air from the pressure vessel that can obstruct the sterilization procedure.
To remove air from the chamber, different autoclaves employ various techniques.
- Steam is used to displace the air in a “Gravity Displacement Autoclave”.
- It employs pressure pulses and steam flushes for its “Positive Pressure Displacement Autoclave”.
- Negative pressure (vacuum) displacement type, in which all the air is removed using a vacuum pump.

In order to continuously deliver steam into the pressure vessel through a heating element during the sterilizing phase, it must be closed the autoclave’s exhaust valve.
It causes the temperature and pressure to quickly rise to the appropriate setpoint.
Then, depending on the kind and load of the content, the chamber’s contents undergo the exposure phase under sterilization temperature exposure for the necessary amount of time.

The final phase includes the release of an exhaust valve to release steam out of the autoclave chamber or depressurize it.
As the steam entirely evaporates, and take out the sterilized material.