Bowie and Dick Test Pack

A Bowie and Dick (B&D) Test Pack is used to assess the performance of a vacuum steam steriliser. It checks the autoclave’s ability to complete vacuum operations, remove air from the chamber and detect potential air leaks. These tests confirm that steam can properly penetrate loads during sterilisation.

B&D tests are commonly used in medical and dental practices, and in other settings that operate pre-vacuum autoclaves, as part of their sterilisation compliance requirements.

Place the unopened test pack into an empty chamber and run the Bowie and Dick cycle. Most autoclaves include a preset program for this test. At the end of the cycle, the indicator pattern will change colour to confirm a successful result.