ISO/TC 198/WG 6 - Chemical indicators

This document specifies the performance requirements and test methods for hollow devices and porous devices as well as the chemical indicators and biological indicators that are utilized within these devices for testing a specific steam penetration performance of type B cycles and some type S cycles of small steam sterilizers according to EN 13060. NOTE The hollow and porous devices described in this document are not intended for use as surrogate devices for hollow and porous medical devices used in health care facilities. a) Chemical indicators used with a porous device specified in this document are designed to demonstrate the adequacy of steam penetration into a porous device in small steam sterilizers (see EN 13060). This document specifies the requirements for: — a reference porous device (RPD) as a reference device by which alternative porous indicator systems (APISs) can be shown to be equivalent in performance according to this document, i.e. a textile test pack in which steam penetration is judged by thermometric means; — an alternative porous chemical indicator system equivalent in performance to the RPD, i.e. an APIS, usually commercially manufactured, of any design. b) Chemical indicators used with a hollow load device specified in this document are designed to demonstrate the adequacy of steam penetration into a narrow lumen (previously known as hollow load A) in small steam sterilizers (see EN 13060). This document specifies the requirements for: — a reference hollow device (RHD) used as a reference device in this document, i.e. a lumened device with attached capsule in which steam penetration is judged by inactivation or survival of a specified biological indicator; — an alternative hollow device: — employing the same specific test load as defined for the RHD and a chemical indicator designed specifically for use in the reference hollow test load, i.e. a lumened device with an attached capsule in which steam penetration is judged by visual examination of a chemical indicator; — equivalent in performance to the RHD, i.e. an alternative hollow device, usually commercially manufactured, of any design.

ISO 11140-1:2014 specifies general requirements and test methods for indicators that show exposure to sterilization processes by means of physical and/or chemical change of substances, and which are used to monitor the attainment of one or more of the process parameter(s) specified for a sterilization process. They are not dependent for their action on the presence or absence of a living organism.

ISO 15882:2008 provides guidance for the selection, use and interpretation of results of chemical indicators used in process definition, validation and routine monitoring and overall control of sterilization processes. ISO 15882:2008 applies to indicators that show exposure to sterilization processes by means of physical and/or chemical change of substances, and which are used to monitor one or more of the variables required for a sterilization process. These chemical indicators are not dependent for their action on the presence or absence of a living organism.

ISO 11140-4:2007 specifies the performance for a Class 2 indicator to be used as an alternative to the Bowie and Dick-type test for steam sterilizers for wrapped health care goods (instruments, etc. and porous loads). An indicator complying with ISO 11140-4:2007 incorporates a specified material which is used as a test load. This test load may, or may not, be re-usable. ISO 11140-4:2007 does not specify requirements for the test load, but specifies the performance of the indicator in combination with the test load with which it is intended to be used. The indicator specified in ISO 11140-4:2007 is intended to identify poor steam penetration but does not necessarily indicate the cause of this poor steam penetration. This part of ISO 11140-4:2007 does not include test methods to establish the suitability of these indicators for use in sterilizers in which the air removal stage does not include evacuation below atmospheric pressure.

ISO 11140-5:2007 specifies the requirements for Class 2 indicators for Bowie and Dick-type air removal tests used to evaluate the effectiveness of air removal during the pre-vacuum phase of pre-vacuum steam sterilization cycles. Additionally, ISO 11140-5:2007 includes test methods and equipment used to meet these performance requirements.

ISO 11140-3:2007 specifies the requirements for chemical indicators to be used in the steam penetration test for steam sterilizers for wrapped goods, e.g. instruments and porous materials. The indicator for this purpose is a Class 2 indicator as described in ISO 11140-1. Indicators complying with ISO 11140-3:2007 are intended for use in combination with the standard test pack as described in EN 285. ISO 11140-3:2007 does not consider the performance of the standard test pack, but does specify the performance of the indicators.

ISO 11140-1:2005 specifies general requirements and test methods for indicators that show exposure to sterilization processes by means of physical and/or chemical change of substances, and which are used to monitor the attainment of one or more of the variables required for a sterilization process. They are not dependent for their action on the presence or absence of a living organism. The requirements and test methods of ISO 11140-1:2005 apply to all indicators specified in subsequent parts of ISO 11140, unless the requirement is modified or added to by a subsequent part, in which case the requirement of that particular part will apply.

ISO 15882:2003 provides guidance for the selection, use and interpretation of results of chemical indicators used in process definition, validation, and routine monitoring and control of sterilization processes. ISO 15882:2003 is applicable to chemical indicators for which International Standards exist (see ISO 11140 series). ISO 15882:2003 is not applicable to those processes that rely on physical removal of microorganisms, e.g. filtration. ISO 15882:2003 is not intended to apply to combination processes, for example, washer-disinfectors or flushing and steaming of pipelines.

Specifies performance requirements for indicators that show exposure to sterilization processes by means of physical and/or chemical change of substances.