Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but it must be in very small amounts, for example, very small labels. The common paper absorbs the Sterilizing Agent removing it from the chamber, especially near the labels, and will result in more Sterilizing Agent waste (please see Chapter VII of Instruction Manual, on point 2 – Loading the Sterilization Chamber).

Yes, but they must not be rolled inside the involucres and they must have the lumen ends open (please see Chapter VI of Instruction Manual, on point 1 – Sterilization Cycles – Cycle 3 – Endoscopes). This type of material to sterilize must be packed with compatible material.

You should use pouches or paper prepared for this sterilization method, recommended by Sterifast, Lda (please see Chapter VII of Instruction Manual – on point 1 - Material’s Sterilization – Materials that can be sterilized in the Sterifast).

Sterifast Company recommends to use of APPROVED® Biological Indicators (SCBI) with a population 10^6 Geobacillus stearothermophilus in the chamber and packed in the Tyvek® Reel. Our range of tests also includes a Biological Indicator with a population of 10^6 which has been developed with the purpose to be placed inside a lumen Process Challenge Device also developed for this test, Sterifast mark.

We recommend APPROVED® chemical indicators. One chemical indicator must be placed in each package. We do not recommend the placement of chemical indicators inside of the Process Challenge Device.

Our Company’s service department has qualified personnel to validate the sterilizers. The validation kit is a small equipment which can be mounted near the sterilizer. It is independent of the automation and validates independently all the cycle data, informing the operator if the cycle passed according to the manufacturer graphs and a complete executed cycle report is supplied.

At the end of the cycle, the Sterifast sterilizers print out a report of values of the various cycle phases, diffusion phases and the time spent in each phase. The report also has the maximum values of the pressure of the air entry in the diffusion and the temperature that the cycle occurred. It records any fail during the cycle and a blank space is available so the operator can sign and validate the report. Basically, the report informs that all the phases have been passed. In case of phase failure, it will appear in the report.

To clean the sterilizer chamber you must turn on the sterilizer and select one of the cycles, in order to open the doors. Turn off the sterilizer until the cleaning is finished. The sterilization chamber can be cleaned with a wet cloth and water. The water should not be placed directly into the chamber because it damages the vacuum pump. After the cleaning, the door should be kept open until the chamber is completely dry. All the cleaning actions must be done at the beginning of the day when the machine is cold.

First you have to turn the machine “OFF” and then you can clean it with a wet cloth or with some special product for cleaning PC screens.

No. The chamber and doors temperature is at most 60ºC which cannot lead to accidental burnings. Nevertheless, if you have a sensitive skin, you should use gloves when unloading the chamber at the end of the cycle as the material could still be hot.

The equipment was developed with high concern about the personnel safety. When refilling the Sterilizing Agent, it is not possible to touch it directly. If you have any question, please contact the production and manufacturing department for further information.

The maintenance should only be done by the manufacturer and recommended companies with a Sterifast training. The Sterifast sterilizers may have telemaintenance service. This service is activated according to the agreement between the manufacturer and the hospital. It’s possible, using an Ethernet connection, to verify from our facilities the functionalities of the sterilizers and show all the steps that should be followed.

No. You cannot use any product which is not recommended for use with this equipment. The Sterifast sterilizers have been studied and developed together with the Sterilizing Agent. It is not possible to introduce any other kind of Sterilizing Agent in the sterilizer tank because it has a safety system that detects it. Any attempt to refill manually will block the machine.

You have to read and note any information given by the machine. Refer to the user manual for any help. If you do not find the needed information, you should contact the manufacturer or the authorized agent. Please record on your Non Conformity record sheet all verified malfunctions. This information is very important for our constant improvement.

You can buy directly from Sterifast Company, or from the exclusive distributors. Visit our website for more details: https://www.sterifast.com

Sterifast sterilizers have been developed by a large and young team. The basis was the new method of using hydrogen peroxide as a Sterilizing Agent, which has been registered. This team tried hard to make the machine performing, ergonomic, safe and also attractive.

Open the door completely and close it again. If the problem persists please call a Sterifast Technician. Check the gasket for damage and dirt. After each cycle the door should be open completely and close again to machine let user start a new cycle. This feature is to help the user to not initiate a new cycle without taking out the indicators of the previous cycle.

The sterilizers has been studied in order to have fast cycles and even to be able to sterilize lumen. Basically, in the chamber, the cycle runs in high vacuum. After an initial vacuum, air is injected into the chamber by a Hepa filter. After the second vacuum phase, the Sterilizing Agent is injected. Then the exhaustion and the Sterilizing Agent burning phases begin, followed by a chamber ventilation phase.

The PC’s memory might be busy. Restart the PC and open the software again.

Open the door completely and close it again. If the problem persists please call a Sterifast Technician. Check the gasket for damage and dirt. After each cycle the door should be open completely and close again to let the user start a new cycle.

The sliding door only opens when the operator gives the instruction on the screen or by pressing the foot pedal on the premium machines. If the door is open for more than 10 minutes, the door closes automatically to save energy. There is a bar sensor in the door, sensitive to 150 grams. During the close movement, once pressed this sensor reverts the movement of the door and waits 10 more minutes.