Autoclave sterilizers are essential for almost any type of laboratory and it is crucial to choose the best autoclave that suits your needs. Because autoclaves come in many shapes and sizes, from compact and portable to built-in wall units and many configurations from horizontal front-loading to top-loading autoclaves, it can be overwhelming to make the right selection and stressful wondering whether you have made the correct decision.

Choosing the best autoclave largely depends on several factors, including autoclave media (what you are autoclaving), your throughput needs (how large your autoclave media is and how much you need to autoclave) and available laboratory space, as well as convenience and personal preference. To assist you in your autoclave search, we have outlined the most significant factors that will help you choose the right autoclave for your sterilizing needs.

1. Which purpose will it serve?

It is essential to ensure sterilization at every place where reusable tools are used. That is why every such place should have an autoclave, preferably a class B device which is the most versatile model. B class autoclave makes possible to sterilize instruments of any design (type A and B batches), both unpackaged and packaged. In addition, class B autoclaves ensure full safety and effectiveness of sterilization process. Remember that only sterilized instruments provide protection against infection with diseases such as hepatitis B and C, HIV and diseases caused by Candida fungi.

2. Autoclave’s capacity

Enbio company offers the following models of its autoclaves: Enbio S, Enbio Pro and Enbio S Black. Enbio S and Enbio S Black (differing only in colour) are the smallest autoclaves available on the market (25 cm wide x 16 cm high x 56 cm long). They are also the fastest on the market – the entire sterilization process takes only 7 minutes. Such short time of sterilization makes possible to carry it out even between one treatment and another. The volume of the process chamber is 2,7 liters. Such capacity allows for the simultaneous sterilization of up to 8 packages of instruments. Such an autoclave can be used in beauty parlour, podiatry parlour, tattoo/piercing studio, as well as in smaller private medical clinics. Enbio PRO is a larger autoclave model. It has a much larger process chamber – its volume is 5,3 litres. It will accommodate all popular implant cassettes. Its size allows for simultaneous sterilization of up to 16 tool packs, which is twice more than for Enbio S. At the same time, it is not much bigger than the other models – Enbio Pro weighs 20 kg and its dimensions are: 56 cm x 27 cm x 20 cm. This autoclave will work in larger beauty parlours, dental parlours and medical clinics.

3. Noise level

Enbio autoclaves are changing the philosophy of work – they are extremely quiet and compact. These are very important qualities, because working device would be heard every day. It is therefore important that autoclave is not inconvenient for employees and customers. The Enbio S and Enbio Pro autoclaves provide acoustic comfort at work – they produce less noise than popular coffee machines (42 dB(A)).

4. Warranty and service

The autoclave is a device that has to be used every day, because instrument sterilization has to be carried out continuously. The broken device makes sterilization process impossible to carry out which cannot happen. That’s why Enbio autoclaves have 2 year door-to-door warranty. 24/7 service is also available. In case of a device failure, a replacement device is sent or the new one is given (as long as it´s within warranty, it´s a new device, not replacement).

5. Design

In past autoclaves were not very aesthetically pleasing devices and they were taking up much space. These days are gone though. Enbio autoclaves are not only the highest quality devices  – they also make an interesting, pleasing to the eye, integral part of parlour equipment. It is important especially for small salons and parlours. Thanks to its compact dimensions, the Enbio S autoclave can be even placed on a standard worktop. What’s more, its unprecedented design was awarded in the international design competition RedDot. The sterilizers are also available in many colours  – white, black, blue, yellow, pink and green. That’s why they fit into the decor of every parlour or salon.

6. The duration of sterilization process

It is known that a larger autoclave needs a little more time to sterilize the tools than a smaller one, but in both cases it is a relatively short process. The Enbio S autoclave has 3 working programs. In the 134°C FAST program, sterilization itself takes 3,5 minutes and a whole process’ total duration is only 7 minutes. The standard 134°C program, which also includes a drying stage, takes 15 minutes (with sterilization process taking only 4 minutes and drying – 3 minutes). The 121°C program, the longest one, takes 30 minutes, including the drying stage. The Enbio Pro autoclave also offers 3 programs with lengths of 10, 18 and 31 minutes. Each of them is designed for different types of instruments. However, in each case the sterilization time is short and does not hinder the admission of subsequent patients  – it is possible to sterilize instruments on an ongoing basis.

7. Collecting data on the sterilization process

It is the responsibility of each parlour to keep records of the sterilization process. They must be kept for 2 years. Some of the autoclaves available on the market are equipped with printers that can generate data about the sterilization process, but this is not necessary anymore. Enbio gives the possibility to store data on a dedicated pendrive, and print them on any printer at a convenient time.