Sterilization refers to any process that removes, kills, or deactivates all forms of life and other biological agents present in or on a specific surface, object, or fluid. Sterilization can be achieved through various means, including heat, chemicals, irradiation, high pressure, and filtration. What is Autoclave sterilization process? Autoclave sterilization is a process to remove bacteria, germs, and all other forms of microbial life. The process involves high-pressure steam at elevated temperatures to achieve sterilization. Steam sterilization is highly efficient, making it one of the most reliable forms of sterilization. Autoclaving can be used on various instruments. It’s not about which is the best sterilization method/process; it is more about what is being sterilized. For instance, if you are going to have surgery on your hand and the skin needed to be as germ free as possible, autoclaving would be a terrible choice in this case. Autoclave is more efficient sterilization process because it is nontoxic and very cheap as compared to other methods. Autoclaving also saves time; it’s a kind of pressure cooker that gets equipment or instruments to high temperature and holds it for a certain time period. Autoclaving is also an effective sterilization method for hard objects such as glassware or metal equipment that would not be modified by the process. People often mix the boiling and autoclaving together but they are totally different and the reason for autoclaving is better than boiling are: •You have to have 120 degree Celsius to Sterilize. •It is not possible to raise the temperature of water or water vapor above 100 degree Celsius with the normal atmospheric pressure. •To get a higher boiling point, and with this higher temperature of water and/or vapor, you have to rise the pressure. •Here is where the autoclave sets in. The autoclave is closed, and raises the internal pressure enough for water and/or water vapor to reach the wanted 120 degree Celsius, which is needed for sterilization. Boiling can help you in disinfection but not sterilization. In disinfecting, you kill all ordinary viruses, bacteria and fungi with the exception of the spores of spore-forming bacteria. If boiling in ordinary water on a stove, the water holding 100 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes, you have disinfected the item. In sterilization, not only viruses, bacteria and fungi are killed, also the spores of spore-forming bacteria are killed. The only infective agent not being killed by sterilization is the prions. The only way to destroy them is burning them.