Routine monitoring for sterilizers is an example of which practice?

• A. Environmental sampling
• B. Biological monitoring of sterilizers
• C. Chemical indicators
• D. Air sampling

Answer: (B)

Biological monitoring of sterilizers verifies that the sterilization cycle actually achieves sterilization. It uses spore-containing indicators placed in the load or in a representative location to test whether the cycle can lethally inactivate even the most resistant organisms. After the cycle, the indicators are incubated to see if any spores survived; no growth means the process was effective, while growth indicates a failure that needs investigation. This directly confirms the sterilizer’s efficacy, unlike environmental sampling (checking surfaces in the environment), chemical indicators (which show that cycle conditions were met but not actual sterility), or air sampling. Hence routine monitoring for sterilizers is best described as biological monitoring of sterilizers.