Tejas Labs India Falnir, Mangalore, Karnataka

"Biological monitors should be used routinely to verify the adequacy of sterilization cycles. Weekly verification should be adequate for most dental practices."- Council on Scientific Affairs and Council of Dental Practice, JADA, May 1996

Chemical indicators do not indicate sterilisation,only that the load has been exposed to thephysical condition the indicator is monitoring,Biological indicators challenge the microbial killing power of the sterilisation process and usually include biological spores.

Only biological indicators, which use highly heat-resistant spores, actually show that sterility has been achievedThe preferred test organism for steam sterilization is Geobacillusstearothermophilus.

Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office:Biological indicators (BI) (i.e., spore tests) verify the sterilization process directly by assessing the killing of known highly resistant microorganisms.

Autoclave indicator tape and autoclave indicator bags change colour when the proper temperature has been reached. While the indicator tape quick-check should be conducted with every load, it must be supplemented periodically by use of a biological indicator (such as Bacillus spores) buried in the center of a load to confirm the sterilization.