The
most suitable type of autoclaves for sterilizing blood bag systems are
autoclaves in which sterilizing medium is a mixture of steam and air. This
method, one of the counter pressure types of sterilization, is also called
‘air-over-steam’. It allows controlling the sterilization pressure independently
of the temperature: this independence is impossible with conventional pure-steam
autoclaves, as the temperature and pressure of pure saturated steam are linked
by a one-to-one relation.
An
article of interest: “This article provides basic information on the
sterilization of blood bags systems by moist-heat. Problems of pressure
compensation and steam penetration into the system parts without water inside,
and the process choice between single and double autoclaving are discussed.”
Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle