What two types of indicators are used to verify autoclave sterilization?

• A. Time cards and temperature gauges.
• B. Biological indicators and chemical indicators.
• C. Color indicators only.
• D. Humidity indicators and pressure gauges.

Answer: (B)

Verifying autoclave sterilization relies on two kinds of indicators: biological indicators and chemical indicators. Biological indicators test whether the process actually achieves sterilization by using resistant spores and then incubating them to see if any growth occurs—no growth means the load was effectively sterilized. Chemical indicators provide a visible sign that the cycle conditions were met, such as reaching the correct temperature and exposure time, but they don’t prove sterility by themselves. Together, they confirm both that the cycle ran correctly and that it was capable of sterilizing. The other options don’t fit: time cards and temperature gauges only monitor what happened, not whether sterility was achieved; color indicators alone don’t confirm lethality; humidity indicators and pressure gauges aren’t standard verification tools for sterilization.