Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The reason the Bowie Dick test must be run and pass before operating a sterilizer with a load after major repair is due to its specific purpose in ensuring that the sterilization process is effective, especially in steam sterilization systems. This test checks for proper air removal and steam penetration, which are critical for ensuring that the sterilization cycle can effectively kill microorganisms in the sterilization load.

After a major repair, there could be changes to the sterilization equipment that might affect its performance. By performing the Bowie Dick test, one can confirm that the sterilizer is functioning correctly post-repair. This helps assure that all subsequent loads will be subjected to a reliable sterilization process, reducing the risk of infection or contamination from improperly sterilized medical instruments.

Other options serve different purposes: a Type 1 indicator simply shows that a sterilization process has occurred but does not guarantee effectiveness, while validation and verification processes are broader quality assurance activities that ensure the sterilization cycle meets specified standards, but they do not provide the immediate assurance needed after a major repair.