Monitoring & QAQuestion 72 of 100
How should the daily Bowie-Dick test cycle be run?
a.In a fully loaded chamber, to reflect real conditions
b.In an otherwise empty chamber, in the first cycle of the day after a warm-up cycle, at 270 to 275 degrees F for the time specified by the test manufacturer, usually not exceeding 4 minutes
c.In any cycle of the day, as long as the result is recorded
d.Together with a biological indicator, so both tests share the same cycle
Explanation
The Bowie-Dick test is run in an empty chamber so the only challenge to air removal is the test pack itself, and a warm-up cycle first brings the chamber and jacket to operating condition. Exposure time follows the test manufacturer instructions and is typically limited to about 3.5 to 4 minutes, because overexposure can produce a false pass. Running it in a production load or combining it with biological monitoring invalidates the intent of the test.
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