BT23/6 Self-contained spore ampoules for Steam

BT23/6 / Self-contained Spore Ampoules for Industrial Steam sterilization of liquids. Geobacillus stearothermophilus (ATCC 7953) 10^6 spores per ampoule. (10 x 58 mm). 2 ml of culture medium.

Bionova® BT23 Self-Contained spore ampoules has been designed for monitoring Steam sterilization processes at temperatures between 121ºC and 135 ºC.

If the sterilization process was not effective, the indicator medium will turn to yellow after incubation between 55-62 ºC, thus indicating the presence of living Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores.

If the sterilization process was effective, the indicator medium will remain the original color after incubation. The final readout should be performed after 48 hours of incubation between 55-62 ºC.

Instructions for use

1. Take the Bionova® BT23 Ampoules out of the refrigerator and leave them stabilize at room temperature up to ten minutes.

2. Place the Bionova® BT23 Ampoules inside a container with the liquid being sterilized or in a container with liquid similar to that containing the liquid to be sterilized. This container should be the same size and have the same volume as the one containing the liquid being sterilized.

3. Sterilize as usual.

4. Once the sterilization process has finished, open the sterilizer door, wait five minutes and remove the biological indicator from the container. WARNING: Wear safety glasses and gloves when removing the Bionova® BT23 Biological Indicator from the sterilized container.

5. Incubate the processed biological indicator, a negative control and a non-sterilized biological indicator as a positive control, during 48 hours between 55-62 ºC.

The positive control ensures that the incubation conditions were met.

The negative control, not being exposed to the sterilization process, can be used as a reference color to compare positive and negative results. Conversely, when used with the ampoules during the process, it ensures that any color change produced immediately after sterilization is the result of the process and not due to germination and/or spore growth.

Readout should be performed at convenient intervals of 12 hours.

It is recommended the use of Bionova® IC10/20 Dual Incubator or similar devices that assure an efficient temperature control. WARNING: Traditional culture stoves have thermal profiles that differ from the above recommended incubators, thus their use might affect or delay the Bionova® BT23 Biological Indicators result.

A color change to yellow of the proccesed biological indicator medium means a sterilization process failure has occurred. If after 48 hours there is no color change in the processed indicators, a final negative result is obtained, meaning the sterilization process was effective. The positive control indicator should turn to yellow for the result to be valid and the negative control should remain the same color.