A Bowie-Dick test sheet comes out of the sterilizer with a pale, uneven center and darker edges. What does this indicate and what should be done?

Explicación

Uneven or lighter color change, especially in the center, means residual air remained in the pack and steam did not penetrate uniformly, which points to an air leak, a faulty vacuum pump, or a plugged drain. The sterilizer must be taken out of service for patient loads until the cause is found and a passing test is achieved. A non-uniform result is never normal, and the Bowie-Dick test measures air removal rather than pressure or microbial kill.