Things To Look For When You Buy An Autoclave Sterilizer
If the time has come for you to buy an autoclave, don't make a hasty decision. Autoclaves come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with lots of different features. Some of those features you may not need. You can save money when you buy an autoclave sterilizer if you understand environmental test chamber some of these different features and how they affect your business.
Class: Autoclaves are available in two different classes. Type A is for loads consisting of unwrapped, solid instruments and Type B is for any type of load. What type of load requirements will you have for your business? If you find a better deal on a Type A sterilizer remember, you won't be able to process wrapped loads.
Chamber size: The size of the chamber affects the size of the load. If you overload your autoclave the steam inside the chamber won't circulate properly and sterilization won't occur. While a larger chamber can facilitate larger loads, it may also take more time for the chamber to reach the proper temperature and complete a cycle.
Case Size and style: Space will be a major consideration. A larger chamber will mean a larger case and if you don't have the floor space you'll have to choose a counter-top model. You'll also have a choice of top loading or front loading. If you choose the front loading model you'll need additional space to allow for opening the door. You'll save space with a top loader but they're a little more difficult to unload.
Printer/Data logging: Accurate record keeping is critical. If you'll be running a large number of loads each day and you don't want to have to trust it to staff, consider getting an autoclave that connects with your printer to automatically generate printed data. You can also go a step further and get a sterilizer with data logging capabilities and eliminate the possibility of human error altogether.
New vs Used: Buying a used autoclave is certainly something you should consider and you'll find plenty of reliable machines on various sites on the Internet. However, aside from obvious mechanical considerations, you'll also want to take a look at the appearance. You'll want your clients to feel they're in a safe, sterile environment and an old, beat-up autoclave won't make a very good first impression, even if it does work like a top.
Buying an autoclave sterilizer can be a major business expense. Your first thought might be to save some money and buy the least expensive model you can find, or just buy the biggest one environmental chamber manufacturers you come across and call it a day. In the end, you're probably wasting your money either way. The cheap machine won't have all the features you need and you'll have to buy another one or the big autoclave will have more than you need and you'll have overspent.