Where to Buy Bowie-Dick Test Packs in Ontario for Daily Vacuum Checks
A Bowie-Dick test does one job: it shows that a pre-vacuum autoclave removed air from the chamber before the load was treated. On a unit that pulls a vacuum, that air-removal check is run daily. This guide covers where Ontario clinics buy Bowie-Dick test packs, which autoclaves need the test, and what to confirm on pack size, batch and records before ordering a case.
Where can an Ontario clinic buy Bowie-Dick test packs?
Bowie-Dick packs reach Ontario practices through licensed medical device distributors, and the useful test is a supplier that ships the case within the country, so a daily test is never short of supply. The Bowie-Dick test pack, 6-pack is an ISO 11140-5 Type 2 air-removal test built for pre-vacuum cycles.
Which autoclaves need a Bowie-Dick test?
| Cycle type | Air-removal test |
|---|---|
| Pre-vacuum, Class B | Yes, daily Bowie-Dick |
| Gravity, Class N | Not the same test |
Round Out Your Sterilization Setup
A biological indicator is one link in the chain — these are the pieces it works with:
- Sterilization pouches — Class 4 dual-indicator, 200-pack — the packaging the indicator rides inside
- Autoclave indicator tape — 3-roll set — the external chemical indicator on every pack
- Sterilization roll — 50 m pre-cut sheets for larger instruments
- Constant-heat pouch sealer — 200 °C, 12 mm seal — for consistent pouch closures
The test checks air removal, so it is used on pre-vacuum (Class B) autoclaves. A gravity or Class N unit that does not pull a vacuum does not use the same air-removal test, which is why the cycle type is the first thing to confirm before ordering a case.
What should you confirm before ordering?
Four checks cover most of the risk. The test type first: a Bowie-Dick pack is an ISO 11140-5 Type 2 air-removal test, and it should be matched to the pre-vacuum autoclave you run. The pack size second, so the sheet is read the way the maker intends. The lot and expiry third, because the test is valid only inside its stated shelf life. The record fourth, because the daily result is only useful when the lot, cycle and outcome are written next to the test. Routine monitoring alongside the air-removal check runs on the 5-pack biological indicator trial, and the internal pack monitor for the load is a Class 5 steam chemical integrator.
Running a dental practice? See our dental practice supplies and compliance pages.
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. Reselling? become a distributor.
References
- ISO 11140-5:2007 Chemical indicators for air removal (Bowie-Dick) (checked 7 October 2026)
- RCDSO - Infection Prevention and Control (checked 7 October 2026)
Printable companion: the free air-removal test log lists the test pack lot, cycle and pass fields a daily record needs, so the check is written down before the first load.
Rather than a blank form, the sterilization log generator prints a daily monitoring sheet with the columns your clinic fills in for each autoclave.
Not sure how this applies to your own setup? Ask a sterilization compliance specialist — you’ll get a written answer specific to your equipment and province, with the regulation or standard cited.
Related Reading
- Bowie-Dick Test Packs: ISO 11140-5 Type 2 and Daily Vacuum Checks
- Is a Bowie-Dick Test Required Daily? Canada vs the US
- Bowie-Dick vs Biological Indicator: What Each Test Catches
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can an Ontario clinic buy Bowie-Dick test packs?
Bowie-Dick packs are supplied through licensed medical device distributors, and a Canadian supplier ships the case within the country so the daily test is never short of supply.
Which autoclaves need a Bowie-Dick test?
The test checks air removal, so it is used on pre-vacuum (Class B) autoclaves. A gravity or Class N unit that does not pull a vacuum does not use the same air-removal test, so confirm the cycle type before ordering.
Is the Bowie-Dick test the same as a biological indicator?
No. The Bowie-Dick test checks that air was removed from the chamber before the load; the biological indicator checks that the cycle killed the challenge organism. Ontario clinics run both, and each answers its own question.
What should be confirmed before ordering?
Confirm the pack is an ISO 11140-5 Type 2 air-removal test, that it matches the pre-vacuum autoclave you run, and that the pack size and case count cover the number of autoclaves tested each day.
Last updated: October 2026. CliniEco Medical is a licensed medical device establishment (MDEL #35334).
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