| A very important section of any medical practise | | | | are inactivated. |
| or hospital is what is called the Central Sterilization | | | | There are chemical and biological indicators that |
| and Supplies Department or CSSD. In the typical | | | | can be used to ensure an autoclave reached the |
| CSSD of a hospital, surgical equipments and | | | | correct temperature for the correct amount of |
| bandages and supplies are sterilized and cleansed | | | | time. |
| and ready for re-use. The equipment for | | | | Chemical indicators can be found on medical |
| sterilization is called an autoclave or commonly | | | | packaging and autoclave tape, and these change |
| called a sterilizer. | | | | color once the correct conditions have been met. |
| A medical autoclave is a device that uses steam | | | | With the change in color, we have indication that |
| to sterilize equipment and other objects. | | | | the object inside the package, or under the tape, |
| By sterilizing, all bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores | | | | has been autoclaved sufficiently. |