We’ve already discussed the high standards that we hold our clinics to, both when it comes to patient comfort and to sterilization and cleanliness. This week, we thought we’d do a deeper dive on the tests we use to ensure our water lines are sterile and monitored for any harmful bacteria.

Our Winnipeg clinics follow the regulations set out by the Manitoba Dental Association. We take a combined approach to our testing, relying on several different complementary methods of testing to confirm our sterilizers have worked correctly:  

1. Biological Indicators (Spore Tests)

Spore tests are the most accurate and reliable test available to check if a sterilizer is truly working. These tests use very resilient bacteria spores that are harder to kill than normal bacteria to ensure proper sterilization. If the sterilizer kills these stronger spores, it means it also killed harmful bacteria and viruses that may be present before sterilization. Each sterilizer is tested at least daily (using the most efficient cycle available), and a control test (meaning one not run through the sterilizer) must grow bacteria to prove the test was valid. If the spore test passes, we know the sterilizer is working properly.

2. Chemical Indicators (Class 5 Strips)

Our second testing method involves the use of Class 5 testing strips, with one placed inside every cassette or pouch. These strips react to key sterilization conditions, including:

• Time

• Temperature

• Steam

Once used, these strips confirm that the required conditions for proper sterilization were met during that specific cycle. Class 5 strips are important, as their results are available immediately after the cycle finishes. That means that they serve as effective early warnings if something goes wrong in the sterilization process.

3. Documentation and Tracking (Sterilog)

Finally, every load is checked and recorded in the sterilization log. If an issue is ever discovered, instruments can be traced by:

• Date range

• Operator (who loaded or removed it)

• Sterilizer used

• Cycle number

• Package type

Instruments are scanned or noted in the patient chart as well, meaning we can also trace:

• Exactly which instruments were used

• When they were sterilized

• Which cycle they came from

This allows for quick recalls and full traceability if needed.

Bottom Line

This three-fold approach to sterilization testing – wherein spore tests confirm the sterilizer killed harmful bacteria, Class 5 strips confirm each load met proper conditions and Sterilog tracking provides full documentation and traceability – ensures that all of our patients and team members in our practice stay protected at all times.  

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