Autoclaven en reinigers

In juli 2004 is, na vele jaren onderhandelen over de inhoud, eindelijk de Europese Norm EN 13060 ‘Small steam sterilizers’ gepubliceerd en vrij kort daarna overgenomen als Nederlandse Norm NEN-EN 13060.

De Norm 13060 beschrijft de testprocedures voor kleine autoclaven in de gezondheidszorg en de klasse-indeling van deze ‘small steam sterilizers’ die uit deze testen naar voren komt.

De Norm zegt over de indeling van ‘small steam sterilizers’ het volgende:

“Types of sterilization cycles:

Type and description of intended use:

Class B : The sterilization of all wrapped or non-wrapped, solid, hollow load products type A and porous products as represented by the test loads in this standard.
Class N : The sterilization of non wrapped solid products.
Class S : The sterilization of products as specified by the manufacturer of the sterilizer including non wrapped solid products and at least one of the following: porous products, small porous items, hollow load products type A, hollow load products B, single wrapped products, multiple-layer wrapped products.

NOTE 1 : The description identifies ranges of products and test loads.
NOTE 2 : Non wrapped sterilized instruments are intended either for immediate use or for non sterile storage, transport and application (e.g. to prevent cross infection).

It is essential that the sterilizer and associated equipment is used only for the sterilization of the type of products for which it is designed. The choice of sterilizer, sterilization cycle or quality of services provided can be inappropriate for a particular load. Therefore the suitability of a sterilization procedure for a particular product needs to be verified by validation.”