What size autoclave does a veterinary clinic need?

A solo-practitioner small-animal clinic typically needs a table-top autoclave with an 18–23 L chamber. Mixed practices handling soft-tissue and orthopedic surgery benefit from a 50–75 L vertical or B-class unit. High-throughput hospitals processing full surgical packs and drapes should consider a 100–250 L horizontal pulse-vacuum autoclave. HQS Medical offers models across all these ranges.

What is the difference between a Class B and Class N autoclave?

Class B autoclaves use a pre-vacuum cycle to evacuate air from porous loads and hollow instruments, ensuring steam penetrates every surface — required for wrapped instrument packs and lumened items. Class N (gravity displacement) autoclaves are suitable only for unwrapped, solid instruments. Class S falls in between. Veterinary clinics that sterilize wrapped packs or flexible endoscopes should choose Class B.

Can a veterinary autoclave sterilize flexible endoscopes?

No. Standard steam autoclaves operate at 121–134 °C, which damages flexible fiber-optic and video endoscopes. Endoscope reprocessing requires low-temperature sterilization — either ethylene oxide (EO) gas or H₂O₂ plasma. HQS Medical supplies both options in addition to standard steam autoclaves.

How long does a standard autoclave cycle take?

A 134 °C flash (gravity) cycle for unwrapped instruments takes about 3–5 minutes of sterilization time plus loading, heating, and drying — typically 20–30 minutes total. A full Class B wrapped-load cycle with pre-vacuum and drying runs 45–60 minutes. Pulse-vacuum cycles for large loads in horizontal units can take 60–90 minutes.

How do I maintain a veterinary autoclave?

Key maintenance tasks include: (1) daily chamber wipe-down and door gasket inspection, (2) weekly water-reservoir flush and drain filter cleaning, (3) monthly chamber descaling with approved agent, and (4) annual service by a qualified technician covering pressure-relief valve testing and cycle validation. Using distilled or reverse-osmosis water significantly extends chamber and seal life.

What certifications should a veterinary autoclave carry?

ISO 13485, CE marking, and compliance with EN 13060 (table-top sterilizers) or EN 285 (large sterilizers) are key standards. HQS Medical's autoclaves meet ISO 13485 and carry CE certification, and our Class B units are validated to EN 13060 protocols.

Veterinary Autoclave & Sterilizer

Effective sterilization is the cornerstone of infection control in veterinary practice. HQS Medical supplies a full spectrum of autoclave and sterilizer solutions — from compact cassette-type units ideal for dental instrument packs to large horizontal pulse-vacuum autoclaves that handle surgical drapes and gowns in high-throughput hospitals. Our product line also includes ethylene oxide (EO) gas sterilizers for heat-sensitive devices, UV sterilizers for surface disinfection, and H₂O₂ low-temperature plasma systems for endoscopes. All units are manufactured under ISO 13485 and carry CE certification. With stainless-steel chambers, automatic pressure control, and built-in drying cycles, our sterilizers deliver reproducible results while minimizing cycle times and energy use.

31 products

Tipo Calore Secco (Aria Calda)

Sterilizzatore a Calore Secco (Sterilizzatore ad Aria Calda)

Modello: GRF series

Veterinary Autoclave & Sterilizer

Sterilizzatore a Calore Secco (Sterilizzatore ad Aria Calda)

Sterilizzatore a vapore con presa digitale e manuale

Autoclave a vapore verticale digitale

Sterilizzatore a Vapore ad Alta Pressione Verticale

Carrello per sterilizzazione a raggi ultravioletti

Autoclave a vapore da banco

Sterilizzatore a vapore da banco

Sterilizzatore a vapore da banco (Completamente Automatico)

Sterilizzatore a vapore da 16L tipo N da banco

Autoclave a Vuoto Pulsato da Banco

Autoclave a Vapore Pulsante Sottovuoto da Banco

Autoclave a Vuoto Pulsato da Tavolo

Autoclave a Vapore Pulsato sotto Vuoto da Banco

Autoclave a Vapore Pulsato e Vuoto da Banco

Autoclave a vuoto pulsato da banco

Autoclave a Vapore Pulsato Sottovuoto da Banco

Autoclave portatile a vapore sotto pressione

Autoclave Portatile a Vapore

Sterilizzatore a vapore sotto pressione portatile

Autoclave portatile a vapore sotto pressione

Sterilizzatore Orizzontale a Impulsi di Vuoto

Sterilizzatore a Vapore Pulsato Orizzontale Cilindrico (Controllo a Microprocessore)

Sterilizzatore al Plasma a Bassa Temperatura H2O2

Sterilizzatore a Vapore Cilindrico Orizzontale ad Pressione

Autoclave a Vapore Orizzontale Cilindrica

Sterilizzatore a vapore saturo cilindrico orizzontale

Sterilizzatore al Plasma a Bassa Temperatura H2O2

Sterilizzatore al plasma a bassa temperatura H2O2

Sterilizzatore a ossido di etilene

Sterilizzatore a Ossido di Etilene

Sterilizzatore digitale per cassette

Frequently Asked Questions — Veterinary Autoclave & Sterilizer