Clean is not sterile
- Sterilize100%
Kills or inactivates all living microorganisms, including spores
- Disinfect99.99%+
Kills most bacteria and viruses
- Sanitize99.9%+
Kills some bacteria and viruses
- CleanAlways first
Physically removes dirt, debris and some germs
Not all "clean" is the same
Healthcare uses four levels. Each one removes more. Only the last removes everything.16
- Level 1
Clean
Removes visible dirt and many germs.
e.g. Soap and water - Level 2
Sanitize
Cuts germs to a safer level.
e.g. A restaurant table - Level 3
Disinfect
Kills nearly all germs, but not every spore.
e.g. Wiping a hospital surface - Level 4
Sterilize
Kills every form of microbial life, including spores.
e.g. Surgical and dental instruments
RadBox reaches sterileThe difference between disinfected and sterile is spores.16
The hardest form of life to kill
Some bacteria can turn into spores: a dormant, armored form that survives boiling, drying and many disinfectants.
That is why sterilizers are tested with spores. If the spore is killed, everything else is too.17
Sterile means nothing survives
Kill is counted in "logs". Each log kills 90% of what is left. Watch a million spores fall to none.
0% killed · spores remaining
To prove it, labs start with a million spores, find the time it takes to kill them all, then double it: a 12-log safety margin. That margin is why a sterile device has less than a one-in-a-million chance of a single survivor.19
- Enters tissue or bloodScalers, surgical instrumentsAlways sterilized
- Touches the mouthMouth mirrors, dental handpiecesSterilize between patients
- Touches skinBlood pressure cuffs, X-ray headsClean and disinfect
Dental handpieces must be sterilized after every patient. Wiping is not enough.20
Sterile is proven, not assumed
RadBox checks every load three ways.
Color-change strip
A chemical indicator inside each tray changes color when conditions are met.
Machine record
Time, temperature and germicidal dose are logged for each load.
Spore test
A biological indicator spore strip goes through a cycle. If nothing grows, the sterilizer works.