The Importance of the Autoclave HEPA Filter
When you think of an autoclave, you might picture a large machine used to sterilize medical instruments. An autoclave is actually more than just one machine; it’s a whole system that includes an air compressor, water pump, and steam generator. All those components work together to sterilize equipment. But what about the filter? That’s an important part of the process too. A more important part than some take into account. We’ve written about autoclave biological filters before. But this article is about the importance of the autoclave HEPA Filter. They are different from the smaller filters and you’ll see why.
The HEPA Filter is a much bigger filter than other filters and has a different makeup that justifies its imposing size. So we’d like to tell you about the importance of the autoclave HEPA Filter. And if you have any questions, contact us at 704-966-1650, option 3 for tech support.
Why Does the Autoclave Need a Filter?
The autoclave is an important part of any medical facility. The autoclave also helps to prevent the spread of bacteria and infections by ridding of your tools of contaminants before you use them again. In turn, it also protects the people who work in the area from harmful pathogens that can build up if they are not properly taken care of. If something goes wrong with your sterilizer’s filter system (or lack thereof), it could have serious consequences on both patient safety and employee health.
The picture on the right is an example of a HEPA filter that came from an autoclave. All autoclave HEPA filters share this same design. When you use an autoclave without a HEPA filter, there will be nothing to catch the harmful microorganisms that may escape. This means that there could still be traces left behind on your instruments when they come out of your machine. It’s easy to think of the autoclave filter as something that just sits in your machine and does its job, but it’s actually much more than that. A HEPA filter is essential to the autoclaves that use it.
What is a HEPA Filter?
The “HEPA” in “HEPA filter” stands for “high-efficiency particulate air.” This means that the filter can remove 99% of particles that are 0.3 microns or larger from the air passing through it. That’s about 3 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. This makes them extremely effective at removing airborne contaminants that can escape the sterilization chamber during the cycle. The most common type of HEPA filter is made up of fibers woven together to create a dense material. This material can trap these contaminants before they enter your equipment. This type of filter has been proven effective at removing harmful bacteria and other microorganisms from the air around you as well as larger particles like dust or dirt from the air.
If there’s a particle in your air stream, there’s a good chance it will get caught by the filter and stay there until you clean it out. Another benefit of autoclave HEPA filters is their efficiency at capturing bacteria, mold, and viruses. Even if they’re very small (0.1 micron). Even particles of that size can be harmful when left unchecked.
Can I clean the filter instead of replacing it
There are many things you can do to prolong the life of your autoclave’s HEPA filter, but cleaning it is not one of them. The reason for this is that when you wash a HEPA filter in water or other fluids, you run the risk of damaging its ability to trap small particles. When this happens, your sterilization process will be less effective and may even fail altogether.
Autoclaves should not be operated without a filter either. Filters trap particles that can damage the sterilization chamber, preventing them from reaching the medical instruments inside. They also prevent debris from entering places it shouldn’t, also causing damage.
Final Thoughts
The importance of the autoclave HEPA Filter should not be understated. Like the time we wrote about biological filters, autoclave filters in general are a very important part. The HEPA Filter helps keep any harmful pathogens from getting in or out of your sterilization load. And this keeps your patients and employees safe from the spread of harmful microorganisms. Routine upkeep of your HEPA filters and your autoclave is important. So if you have any questions regarding HEPA filters or your autoclave, you can contact us at the links below.
As always if you have any questions about this process or anything else please feel free to contact us and take advantage of our “FREE TECH SUPPORT.”
We also offer FREE VIRTUAL TECH SUPPORT to “See and Talk” with a “Real Time Live Technician” for any problems you may be in need of help with.
You can also use our “FREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM”. Take the guesswork and worrying about what unit is due for maintenance and which maintenance cycle it is time for. We will keep track of all your autoclaves and let you know when it’s time for anything.