Bowie-Dick test
Sterile processing definition
A Bowie-Dick test is a daily test of dynamic air-removal (prevacuum) steam sterilizers that checks whether air is being removed and steam is penetrating the load evenly. It is run in an empty chamber, usually first thing each day before the first processed load. An uneven color change on the test sheet indicates an air leak, poor air removal or noncondensable gases.
On the CRCST exam
A classic exam question: the Bowie-Dick checks air removal, not sterilization lethality, and it is only for prevacuum sterilizers.
Exam domain: Sterilization Process (about 21% of the exam)
Sterilization Process practice questions
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