How often should autoclave biological indicators be run to maintain certification?

• A. Monthly.
• B. Only when a failure occurs.
• C. According to policy and regulations; typically at least weekly, with results recorded.
• D. Every shift.

Answer: (C)

Regular, documented testing of autoclave biological indicators is essential to confirm that the sterilization process consistently reaches the required conditions and to provide verifiable records for certification.

Policies and regulations typically require this testing to be done at least weekly, with the results recorded and retained for audits. This keeps validation ongoing and allows quick detection and correction if anything falls out of spec. Monthly testing is generally not sufficient to maintain certification, waiting for a failure is reactive and can miss undetected issues, and testing every shift is often more frequent than what certification standards mandate (though some settings may require more frequent checks). The important point is consistent weekly testing with proper documentation to demonstrate ongoing compliance.