1.1 Operating Principle
Oxidative destruction of microorganisms
Thermal decomposition of cellular components
Typical temperature range: 160°C-190°C (320°F-374°F)
1.2 Time-Temperature Relationships
Where: t = exposure time (minutes) D₁₆₀ = 60 minutes (Bacillus atrophaeus) z-value = 20°C
Validation Standards
ISO 20857:2013 compliance requirements
Heat distribution testing (±5°C uniformity)
2.1 Temperature Ranges
| Process | Typical Range | Peak Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Heat | 160-190°C | 170°C/60min |
| Steam Autoclave | 121-135°C | 132°C/4min |
2.2 Penetration Capacity
Dry heat: 0.5°C/cm depth penetration rate
Steam: 2.3°C/cm depth penetration rate
2.3 Material Compatibility
Dry heat preferred for:
Anhydrous powders
Glassware
Metal instruments with crevices
Steam required for:
Rubber components
Wrapped instrument kits
Culture media
3.1 Dry Heat Oven Setup
Pre-heat to 140°C for 30 minutes
Ramp to target temperature (≤5°C/min)
Maintain thermal equilibrium (±3°C)
Cooling phase protocols (natural vs forced)
3.2 Cycle Timing Guidelines
| Temperature | Minimum Time | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|
| 160°C | 120 minutes | Glass pipettes |
| 170°C | 60 minutes | Surgical drills |
| 180°C | 30 minutes | Orthopedic implants |
| 190°C | 6 minutes | Emergency instruments |
4.1 Biological Indicators
Bacillus atrophaeus spore strips (10⁶ CFU)
Placement: Coldest oven location
Incubation: 56°C for 48 hours
4.2 Physical Monitoring
Thermocouple mapping (9-point test)
Heat penetration studies
Airflow velocity verification (＞2 m/s)
Dry heat sterilization remains essential for moisture-sensitive instruments, requiring higher temperatures but offering superior material compatibility for specific applications. Successful implementation demands rigorous validation of both time-temperature parameters and heat distribution characteristics. Facilities must choose sterilization methods based on load composition rather than convenience.
Q: How long does sterilization with a dry heat oven typically take? A: Standard cycles range from 6 minutes at 190°C to 2 hours at 160°C. Actual duration depends on load mass and oven validation data.
Q: Can dry heat achieve the same sterility assurance level as autoclaves? A: Both methods achieve 10⁻⁶ SAL when properly validated. Dry heat requires longer cycles due to slower microbial destruction kinetics.
Q: Why are dry heat temperatures higher than autoclave settings? A: Moisture absence necessitates higher thermal energy input. Steam’s latent heat transfer enables lower temperatures (121°C vs 160°C).
Q: How to verify dry heat sterilization effectiveness?
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