Bowie Dick Test Packs

A Bowie-Dick test is used in pre-vacuum type (or dynamic air removal) sterilizers. They are used to detect air leaks and inadequate air
removal and consist of folded 100% cotton surgical towels that are clean and preconditioned. A commercially available Bowie-Dick-type
test sheet should be placed in the center of the pack.
The test pack should be placed horizontally in the front, bottom section of the sterilizer rack, near the door and over the drain, in an
otherwise empty chamber and run at 134°C for 3.5 minutes. The test is used each day the vacuum-type steam sterilizer is used, before
the first processed load.
Air that is not removed from the chamber will interfere with steam contact. Smaller, commercially available disposable test packs (or
process challenge devices) have been devised to replace the stack of folded surgical towels for testing the efficacy of the vacuum
system in a pre vacuum sterilizer.
They should be representative of the load and simulate the greatest challenge to the load. Sterilizer vacuum performance is acceptable
if the sheet inside the test pack shows a uniform color change. Entrapped air will cause a spot to appear on the test sheet, due to the
inability of the steam to reach the chemical indicator. If the sterilizer fails the Bowie-Dick test, do not use the sterilizer until it is
inspected by the sterilizer maintenance personnel and passes the Bowie-Dick test.