Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Joel Huey - Burtons Veterinary Equipment — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:35:24 GMT

We offer our autoclaves with a service contract and also have information on our website and in our catalogue about 'choosing the right autoclave for you'

Hope this helps!

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Anthony Dennison — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 10:00:25 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Volume is no good if you need length!!![/quote]

That's what she said.

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Julie Innes — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 14:52:31 GMT

Ok, interesting, maybe it IS worth getting one with a service contract. Will definitely look into that. And I'll need to do it soon as it looks as though the old one is dying faster than i first thought

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Bob Russell — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 10:41:29 GMT

No autoclave legally sold in the UK should fail to meet the legislation.

Our practice insurance requires we have a written scheme of examination to be valid. I prefer to delegate this responsibility to the company maintaining the machine. They are expert, we are not.

Day to day issues are dealt with in house and are mainly door seal issues.

The autoclave is the one piece of kit that I would never have without a maintenance contract. Not worth the worry to save £40 a month (includes 2 service visits).

Good point about checking the exact dimensions especially if doing any LA work. Volume is no good if you need length!!!

Some machines are better built than others and ours is built like a tank!

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Michael Woodhouse — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 00:41:12 GMT

[quote user="Julie Innes"]I'd LIKE to think the machine I choose will be reliable enough to make them not worth it...[/quote]

Hahahahahahahaha

A vacuum autoclave is intrinsically difficult to make work. Tiny bits of dirt or even a trapped hair in the seal break the vacuum and the cycle fails. We have a Prestige Anima and have had problems but they have always sorted them. Wouldn't dream of a machine out of a service contract.

Check the chamber size very carefully because if you have long or bulky items it can be a problem. Ours is only just wide enough for some of the orthopaedic boxes with the trays and supports removed. It's only just long enough for the emasculators.

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Rob Loxley — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 22:49:01 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]The issue with 'pressurised vessels' is that legally you should be jumping through hoops![/quote]

I think you'd have to be buying something rather dodgy in the way of an autoclave for it not to meet requirements of the Pressure Equipment Regulations, or from some fairly dodgy seller not to be able to provide a written scheme of examination? But yes, you do want someone competent to inspect it.

As for repairs, things with pumps and heating elements and steam and pressure and seals etc will need maintaining and new parts. Our autoclave is going strong at the moment but apparently the last new heating element it had fitted is the last one they could get hold of...
We don't have a service contract as such but it is inspected and maintained as per scheme of examination.

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Julie Innes — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 21:29:17 GMT

I do pay to get the thing serviced every year. But I'm a PSS rebel and refuse to be part of if, so maybe that's why I've never logged days

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Bob Russell — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 15:15:07 GMT

The issue with 'pressurised vessels' is that legally you should be jumping through hoops!

We have little on service contracts but with two services a year and a need for little or no downtime the autoclave is the exception.

We get the required certification etc as part of the contract.

The machine itself has been very reliable therefore the need for non-standard engineer visits has been occasional.

We pay monthly so really don't notice the payments going out!

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Julie Innes — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 14:35:33 GMT

Thanks Bob! Yes, it is repairs/ parts I'd be wondering about. Can't find any reviews so far. I'm not a big fan of service contracts- I'd LIKE to think the machine I choose will be reliable enough to make them not worth it...

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Bob Russell — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 14:31:29 GMT

Ours does a print out detailing every cycle, pressures, temperatures etc therefore you can keep a written record. We staple ours to a diary!

Our machine will also store on a USB stick.

Probably only really of value if you have an infection issue but I assume PSS requires such documentation.

Stand alone printers are available for some models but that just adds to the wires and cleaning!

I would be more concerned about the standard and speed of emergency repairs. Excel are fine and I am sure others will have had good service with other companies.

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Julie Innes — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 14:20:15 GMT

I've never seen a data logger on an autoclave! Is it useful/ necessary?

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Bob Russell — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 14:16:16 GMT

No data logger?

Not much different for one with a print out. Record keeping is very simple with a print out!!!

We use Excel Healthcare and they have never let us down.

https://excelhealthcare.co.uk/product/eclipse-22-litre-b/

Not the machine we have but they offer 12 months interest free!!

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Julie Innes — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 14:04:15 GMT

Anyone had any dealings with MDS medical? I'm looking at a Vetclave, 22L vacuum autoclave going for £1995 + Vat, so £1000 cheaper than Eikmyers vetuvac, and I'm struggling to see the difference.

Thoughts/ experiences?

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Julie Innes — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 08:48:54 GMT

Thanks guys, all very helpful! So I'm looking for a vacuum unit, probably in the £3k bracket.

Next question: where to buy?

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

James Dunne — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 19:33:12 GMT

That is correct! Sorry for not being more clear. There are various classes of vacuum autoclave around, but generally anything wrapped or not being used immediately should be put through a vacuum unit!

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Lindsey Edwards — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 11:26:59 GMT

If you are autoclaving cotton/gowns and wrapped packs then you should be looking at a vacuum autoclave; non-vacuum are only really suitable for loose or unwrapped instrument cases/autoclaving immediately ptior to use (need to take air out of 'sealed' packs to get full steam penetration to everything, I think?)

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Bob Russell — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 09:53:31 GMT

We have a similar unit and about the same price. We got the supplier to split the invoice over three months to assist our cash flow. It was not really enough to take out a lease in our case but would have hit the cash flow a little harder than was convenient!

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

James Dunne — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:51:19 GMT

We spent around £3500 [€4000] on a class B vacuum autoclave. It depends what you want to do with it. If it's large volume of equipment that needs double-bagging and vacuum for orthopaedic work, then spending more on something robust and more effective is worthwhile. If it's just to put through standard small routine surgical packs and some cotton theatre attire, then something with less bells and whistles will be fine. Sterile is not always sterile!! We ran into trouble a number of years ago where a vacuum autoclave was replaced with a non-vacuum on loan without us realising it and we had a spike of orthopaedic infections directly relating to the time during which our original gear was being fixed.

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Rob Loxley — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:44:09 GMT

[quote user="Julie Innes"]So, recommendations for a replacement?[/quote]

+1 for having a good chat to a service engineer to see how models hold up, and ongoing spares availability. We have a Techno-Gaz andromeda which has been going for about 15 years, and only recently had to decommission our SES autoclave which was even older but beyond economical repair.

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Julie Innes — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:41:47 GMT

Thanks guys! I'm completely baffled by the range of types and prices out there. How can one be £800 and another be £6000? What are the differences? Surely sterile is sterile? We are a small practice, use about 3-4 kits a day, plus gowns etc. Not sure what I need and how much I should be looking to spend.

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Lindsey Edwards — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 16:30:25 GMT

I like my little sister quickvac - simple and reliable (and extremely heavy!) Not under contract but service engineer has never had any difficulty fixing it and has ready supply of parts (big problem with some!)

RE: Need new autoclave! Recommendations please!

Bob Russell — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 10:26:22 GMT

Most modern autoclaves are very lightweight (and quality to match). Ours just pre-dates this and takes two to carry it safely!

Not sure that a particular brand is as important as the contract that goes with it.

Ours is on a routine contract with Excel Healthcare and gets twice a year servicing and unlimited breakdown cover for about £50 a month. First year is obviously under guarantee.

The engineer has pretty much the same views on modern machines as your one did!