Dear sir,

How to load the plastic/paper pouches in the steam/EO sterilizers?

Do we need to place the paper side to paper side and platic to plastic on edge?

I read in the USA guideline to place on edage by paper to plastic but I heard from Getinge Sales recommended us to place plastic to plastic and paper to parer? What's the rationale?

thanks and Regards
MG

In New Zealand & Australia, we place the pouches on their edges with paper to laminate (plastic) or flat with the paper side facing downward. Hope this will help.
Lyn
Royston Hospital
Hastings
N.Z.

As a packaging material manufacturer we do recommend that the packages are arranged in the sterilisation tray and in the chamber in such a way that the plastic film faces the plastic film and the paper faces the paper. Plastic films are, in practice, fully airtight. The steam permeability of plastics is minimal - practically nil whereas the paper side allows the sterilant penetration to the item to be sterilised. Packages should be placed on their side (if possible) in the direction of the steam flow, endeavouring to ensure that all the packages are leaning or lying in the same direction to ensure free passage of the sterilant.

If the loading is done paper to plastic, the free penetration might be hindered.

If double sterilisation bags are used the same rule is valid - Packages must be arranged so that they all face in the same direction, i.e. the papers are on the same side and the films on the same side.

Best regards,
Anneli Haikonen
www.wipak.com/medical