Self-contained biological indicators (SCBI’s) are available for monitoring the efficacy of Steam/ Plasma and Ethylene Oxide/ Dry heat sterilization processes. SCBI’s contain bacterial spores on a paper carrier plus a sealed glass ampoule within a vented plastic vial.
The glass ampoule contains a proprietary formulation of soybean casein digest culture media with a pH indicator. The pH indicator remains purple when there is no spore growth and yellow when there is spore growth. This allows quick visual determination of sterilization failures (yellow colour).
Micro-organism |
Sterilization process |
Incubation time |
Incubation temperature |
Etigam productcode |
Geobacillus stearothermophilus 10^5 | Steam | 24 hours | 60 °C | NSC-S5 |
Geobacillus stearothermophilus 10^6 | Steam | 24 hours | 60 °C | NSC-S6 |
Geobacillus stearothermophilus 10^5 | Steam | 10 hours | 60 °C | NRI-S5 |
Geobacillus stearothermophilus 10^6 | Steam | 10 hours | 60 °C | NRI-S6 |
Bacillus Atrophaeus (Subtilis var. Niger) 10^6 |
EO gas |
48 hours |
37 °C |
NSC-E6 |
Spore Ampoules are ideal for use in validation and routine monitoring steam sterilzation cycles of liquids. Spore ampoules are manufactured using hermetically sealed Type 1 borosilicate glass containing an exclusively formulated Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) modified with pH indicator, and Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores. No activation is required, simply expose Spore Ampoules to sterilization process and incubate.
Micro-organism | Vol. | Sterilization process | Incubation time | Incubation temperature | Etigam productcode |
Geobacillus stearothermophilus 10^6 | 0.4 mL | Steam | 48 hours | 60 °C | NAS-S6 |
Geobacillus stearothermophilus 10^6 | 1 mL | Steam | 48 hours | 60 °C | NAL-S6 |
Negative control Ampoules | 1 mL | NAL-NC |