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The picture that says there are two large autoclaves is incorrect, unless the one in the middle is an autoclave. The one to the left is a Steris Reliance 400/500 model Glasswash.

The description of the physics of an autoclave are absolutely horrible, I can't exactly make them better however but regardless, they are horrible - examples: "The evaporation process itself requires all the heat" It requries the heat energy, so I changed that

The higher the temperature, the higher the pressure of the vapor. The heat generated under pressure is called latent heat and has more penetrative power to squeeze through bacteria and even their dormant, heat-resistant form — the endospores.

My English skills aren't good enough to make the physics described in that proper, but I know that's wrong in English

What does heating a liquid above its normal melting point has to do with latent heat, which deals with phase change? Since this isn't using heat with phase changes (directly), it isn't latent heat. We are only heating something under a different pressure which gives us a different boiling point.

From AS/NZS 4815:2006 "Steam is the most widely used agent for sterilization. In steam sterilization, the combination of heat and moisture, maintained at a pre-set temperature-pressure-time relationship, coagulates cell protein, efficiently killing the microorganisms. Its economy and lack of toxicity gives steam an advantage over other sterilization methods. The latent heat available is responsible for the fast destructive power that steam-under-pressure offers." xbgs351 27/3/07

1. Have minimal temperature control. 2. Have only a very basic air removal system. 3. Can't measure or control sterilising time. 3. Do not have a large volume, even when compared to benchtop sterilisers. 4. Are unsuitable for wrapped/bagged instruments. 5. All surfaces are very hot, which presents a burn hazard. 5. Are not suitable for Australia/New Zealand and Europe. Commonly used in third world countries. It appears that they are still used in the USA, which imho is beyond belief. xbgs351 02/04/07