Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the STERRAD® 100NX™ System?
   The STERRAD® 100NX™ System was designed to meet customer needs for a fast, versatile, and large sterilizer. The STERRAD® 100NX™ System has two cycles – a Standard cycle at approximately 47 minutes and a Flex cycle at approximately 42 minutes.
   
   Additionally, several new features have been added to the sterilizer, including enlarged rectangular chamber, network connectivity capability, self-diagnostics, an option for bar code scanning, an easy-to-read touch screen, and a hydrogen peroxide monitor that measures concentration of H₂O₂, along with many other features.
   
   The sterilizer is the same footprint as STERRAD® 100S System, but is 4 inches taller.
   
   
2. How does STERRAD® 100NX™ Technology differ from the other STERRAD® System Technology?
   The STERRAD® 100NX™ System is very similar to the current STERRAD® Systems. The major difference is that the STERRAD® 100NX™ Sterilizer utilizes a new vaporization system that concentrates the hydrogen peroxide up to 95%, by removing most of the water from the hydrogen peroxide. The reduced amount of water improves diffusion of peroxide into lumens and allows a broader range of processing claims for the STERRAD® 100NX™ System.
   
   
3. What are the claims for the STERRAD® 100NX™ System?
   The STERRAD® 100NX™ Sterilizer is designed for sterilization of both metal and non-metal medical devices at low temperatures. Because the cycle operates within a dry environment and at low temperatures, it is especially suitable for instruments sensitive to heat and moisture. The STERRAD® 100NX™ Sterilizer can also sterilize instruments, which have diffusion-restricted spaces, such as the hinged portion of forceps and scissors.
   
   Medical devices with the following materials and dimensions can only be processed in the STERRAD® 100NX™ Sterilizer Standard Cycle:
   
   Single channel stainless steel lumens with:
   An inside diameter of 0.7 mm or larger and a length of 500 mm or shorter
   Polyethylene and Teflon lumen tubing (excluding flexible endoscopes) with:
   
   An inside diameter of 1 mm or larger and length of 1000 mm or shorter. [These items must be sterilized without any additional load.]
   Up to twenty (20) pieces of tubing may be sterilized at one Time
   
   
   
   Many flexible endoscopes, with the following materials and dimensions can only be processed in the STERRAD® 100NX™ Sterilizer Flex Cycle:
   Single channel polyethylene and Teflon flexible endoscopes with:
   
   Diameter of 1 mm or larger and length of 850 mm or shorter.
   One or two flexible endoscopes may be sterilized at one time. These items must be sterilized without any additional load.
   
   
   For further information on claims please see Chapter 8 of the STERRAD® 100NX™ System User's Guide.
   
   
4. Why are there two cycles?
   Two cycles are available to provide maximum flexibility for instrument processing. The vast majority of medical instruments that can be processed in the STERRAD® 100NX™ System(90-95%) may be processed in the Standard Cycle. The Flex Cycle is optimized for single channel flexible endoscopes.
   
   
5. What are the cycle times?
   The Standard Cycle will run approximately 47 minutes and the Flex Cycle will run approximately 42 minutes. Variation of a few minutes around this time may be expected depending on the type of load being processed. Wet loads may cause extended and possibly cancelled cycles. Loads must be thoroughly dried to assure rapid instrument turnaround.
   
   
6. What is Network Connectivity and who sets it up?
   Network connectivity is when the sterilizer is connected to the facility's mainframe computer system to allow uploading of data from the STERRAD® 100NX™ System to the facility's computer system. The uploading of data into a facility's computer system will require Information Technology support from the facility for configuration and access control. Additional software may also be required if the data from the STERRAD® 100NX™ system is to be utilized by existing information management systems. Network connectivity requires the use of an Ethernet cable to connect the system to a network. In addition, network settings need to be configured for each system using a unique IP address. Detailed instructions for connecting the system to a computer network are provided in the STERRAD® 100NX™ System User's Guide. It is recommended that customers seek the assistance of their facility's Information Technology support staff when configuring their system for network connectivity.
   
   
7. Can the STERRAD® 100NX™ System be connected to an instrument tracking system?
   Yes. The facility must work with the supplier of the instrument tracking system in order to connect the sterilizer to the tracking system.
   
   
8. How many cycles can be run with each cassette? How many cassettes are in each case?
   Each cassette contains enough hydrogen peroxide to run 5 cycles. Each case will contain 2 cassettes for a total of 10 cycles per case of cassettes. The cassette collection box for the STERRAD® 100NX™ System holds up to 2 cassettes.
   
   
9. How do we prevent cassettes from being interchanged between STERRAD® Systems?
   Each STERRAD® 100NX™ System Cassette has an RFID tag, which is encoded with STERRAD® 100NX™ System Cassette specific information. When the user inserts the cassette in the STERRAD® 100NX™ System, the system software verifies the validity of the information from the RFID tag. Only a STERRAD 100NX System Cassette will be accepted in a STERRAD 100NX System (you do have the ability to interchange STERRAD 100NX System cassettes among different STERRAD 100NX Systems).
   
   
10. What Biological Indicator should customers use with the STERRAD® 100NX™ System?
    To assure proper sterilizer monitoring, only biological indicators that are designed for use in a particular sterilization modality may be used. The only biological indicators appropriate for use in the STERRAD® 100NX™ System are the STERRAD® CycleSure® Biological Indicator and the STERRAD 100NX Test Pack. Use of biological indicators not designed and validated for STERRAD® 100NX™ System may give misleading results.
    
    
11. Is there an optional bar code reader available and what is it used for?
    Yes. An optional bar-code reader is available from ASP (Product Code 10308). If instruments are labeled with barcodes, the bar-code reader is used for scanning the barcode to enter the load information into the Load Item Data screen.