Spore Testing FAQ
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Tests are processed the same day they are received, followed by an incubation period. The length of the incubation period is as follows:
Steam Autoclaves – 1 business day
Chemical sterilizers (such as Harvey Chemiclave) – 3 business days
Dry Heat and EtO sterilizers – 7 days
Satisfactory results are reported and available on the final day of incubation. Unsatisfactory tests may be reported sooner than these times, after undergoing a secondary confirmation step.
Weekly testing is recommended by the CDC, ADA, OSAP, and AAMI. However, many state dental boards have set their own requirements. Click here for your state’s dental regulations.
The CDC also recommends testing when a new type of packaging material is used, after training new sterilization personnel, after a sterilizer has been repaired, and after any change in your sterilizer loading procedures.
Generally the spore strip should be placed in the center of your sterilizer, or wherever you are placing the equipment to be sterilized. If you are using a multi-test kit, the second strip should be placed in a difficult to sterilize location, such as in the back of the autoclave or a hard to reach location.
The purpose of the test is to verify that your normal sterilization procedure is successful, so treat the test strip like you would any other load. Please refer to your sterilizer’s manual for recommended settings.
Yes. Our test strips are rated for use in both gravity and pre-vacuum sterilizers and for steam temperatures up to 132°C (270° F)
Test kits should be mailed back as soon as possible, ideally the same day the test is run in your sterilizer.
The make, model, and serial number should be printed on the back or side of the sterilizer, usually near the power cord. It may also be found on the inner surface of the sterilizer, behind the door.
Yes. Several different types of chemical indicators are available, and should be used with every sterilizer run. Although chemical indicators verify that specific parameters have been met, they do not verify that sterilization has taken place. If the chemical indicator parameters are not met, the batch should be considered non-sterile and rerun with a new indicator.
You can expect your kit to be delivered within 5-7 business days with standard shipping via USPS First Class Mail. For urgent orders, upgraded shipping is available for delivery in 1-3 days via USPS priority mail express. We only charge actual postage costs and do not charge a handling fee.
The strips are inoculated with two types of non-pathogenic bacteria, Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus atrophaeus. Neither strain of bacteria are harmful to humans.
Yes, you can find the expiration date printed on your test envelopes. Please ensure that you return the test envelope before the printed expiration. We can not process expired test envelopes.
All SporeAlert kits are designed to provide one year of service and come with strips which expire more than one year in the future.
Yes, simply secure the strip in the wrapper with a paper clip and mail it in the testing envelope as normal. This occasionally happens with dry heat sterilizers, but there is little to no risk of the strip being contaminated with the specific strains of bacteria that the strip will be tested for.
If you have more than one sterilizer to monitor, you will need to order one test kit per sterilizer as each sterilizer will need an independent tracking number for reporting purposes.
A single strip test kit and a multi strip test kit serve similar purposes in sterilization monitoring but cater to different needs based on the scale and requirements of the user.
- Single Strip Test Kit:
- Design and Use: The single strip test kit includes one test strip and one control strip per envelope. It is primarily designed for routine sterilizer checks, ideal for small to medium-scale operations or those with standard sterilization needs.
- Regulatory Compliance: It meets compliance regulations across all 50 states, making it a widely accepted choice for ensuring that sterilization processes are in line with health and safety standards.
- Popularity: This is the most popular product due to its simplicity, ease of use, and compliance guarantees.
- Functionality: The test is effective for checking the sterilization efficiency in individual sterilizer cycles, offering a quick result for each test.
- Multi Strip Test Kit:
- Design and Use: The multi strip test kit includes two test strips and one control strip per envelope, and is typically used in larger industrial autoclaves or by clients who need to test multiple areas within the sterilizer chamber.
- Comprehensive Monitoring: This kit provides a more thorough assessment of the sterilizer’s performance by allowing users to test different locations within the chamber. This can reveal potential inconsistencies or issues in the sterilization process that may not be detected with a single test strip.
- Application: It is ideal for clients running very full loads in their sterilizers or those who want to monitor the functionality across a larger surface area or more complex sterilization setup.
- Benefit: The multi-strip kit provides a more comprehensive view of how the sterilizer is functioning, making it a valuable tool for industries that require high-volume or complex sterilization processes.
In summary, while the single strip test kit offers simplicity and regulatory compliance for standard sterilization checks, the multi strip test kit is better suited for larger operations or situations where detailed monitoring of different areas within the sterilizer is needed.
Yes, just email us at [email protected] with your new sterilizer details.
To expedite a test, please ship it to us via one of the following methods:
USPS Express
Ship to:
Woodhouse Laboratories
PO Box 847
Ferndale WA 98248
UPS/FedEx Express
Ship to:
Woodhouse Laboratories
2003 Main Street
Ferndale WA 98248
PO Box 847
Ferndale, WA 98248