Wet loads – a phenomenon or by design?

Abstract

Having been involved in moist heat sterilization and autoclaves for over 40 years it fascinates me that there still exists in our industry confusion and misunderstanding in relation to wet loads. I have therefore decided to write this short story to highlight the fact that, despite the occasional (or should we say frequent) denial within our industry of the existence of wet loads, they do actually occur in relation to porous/hardware loads autoclaved within the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. In fact, I would like to receive a pound for every time I have been asked the question, “Alan, when is wet, wet?” This story is not to discuss whether loads should be wet or dry, but rather to discuss how to avoid the manifestation of a wet load in the first place by effective system design and good practice. And to save production time. Isn’t that worth reading about? So, where to start? I would suggest that like all good stories, we should start at the beginning…….