In Ontario, the expectation is a biological indicator for each sterilizer on every day that sterilizer is used, and for each type of cycle that is used. The test belongs inside a process challenge device, and the result belongs in the logbook.
Dental teams frequently arrive at this question with a different cadence in mind, because a great deal of material written for US practices describes a once-every-seven-days schedule. A once-every-seven-days cadence belongs to the US reference baseline published by CDC and AAMI ST79. It does not describe the expectation here.
How do you work out the annual number of tests?
Count the days your sterilizer runs, not the days the practice is open. A four-day clinical week with two sterilizers in daily use is roughly 200 use-days per sterilizer per year, which is 400 tests. A practice running a sterilizer five days a week on two cycle types is closer to 500 tests once each cycle type is covered.
| Practice pattern | Use-days per year | Sterilizers | Approximate BI tests per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single chair, four clinical days | 190 | 1 | 190 to 250 |
| Three chairs, five clinical days | 240 | 2 | 480 to 500 |
| Multi-chair with a flash cycle in use | 240 | 3 | 720 or more |
The ranges reflect cycle type. A practice running both a standard cycle and a flash cycle on the same unit needs a test for each type on each day of use, which is why the third row rises fastest.
What does a compliant daily routine look like?
At the start of the clinical day, place a biological indicator in a process challenge device for each sterilizer and run it with the first load. Record the sterilizer identifier, the date, and the cycle type. Incubate per the indicator's instructions and record the result when it reads. File the result against the day's cycle printout so the two cross-reference.
If a result fails, quarantine the load and the loads since the last passing test, follow your reprocessing failure protocol, and log the corrective action. A failing test that is re-run until it passes without any investigation is worse than no test at all, because it creates a record that misrepresents the sterilizer's performance.
What about a practice that only runs the sterilizer twice a week?
The trigger is use, not the calendar. A sterilizer that runs on Tuesday and Thursday is tested on Tuesday and Thursday. A sterilizer that is not used is not tested that day, and the log should show a no-use entry rather than an unexplained blank.
How many indicators should be kept on hand?
Enough for at least two months of use-days, plus the incubation consumables. Running out mid-week creates exactly the gap that a log audit looks for, and reactive ordering at the point of failure is a more expensive way to buy than a scheduled reorder point.
Have a question about your own facility? Send it in and you will get a written answer specific to your setup, with the regulation or standard it is based on cited. Ask your compliance question.
Related Reading
- Spore testing protocols for dental clinics
- What to do when a biological indicator fails: clinic action plan
- Dental compliance hub
- sterilization log sheet template
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does a dental office need to do spore testing in Ontario?
A biological indicator is expected for each sterilizer on every day that sterilizer is used, and for each type of cycle used, with the result recorded in the logbook.
Does a sterilizer that is only used twice a week need testing twice a week?
Yes. The obligation follows use rather than the calendar, so a sterilizer that runs twice a week is tested on those two days, and the log should show a no-use entry on the other days.
What happens if a spore test fails?
Quarantine the affected load and any loads processed since the last passing test, follow your reprocessing failure protocol, and record the corrective action. Re-running the test without investigating does not resolve the failure.
Ordering for a clinic, lab or care home? Wholesale and multi-site ordering covers case pricing and account setup, and the B2B wholesale collection lists the lines stocked for institutional buyers.
Start with a trial: Biological Indicator 5-Pack Trial ($12.99, ships free) for a single sterilizer, or request the Rapid Reader seed trial for multi-site monitoring programs.
CliniEco Medical is a licensed medical device establishment (MDEL #35334).
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