8 Different Types of Sterilizer Equipment Every Doctor Should Know About -Hospitalstore (2025)

Sterilization equipment is a medical device used to perform sterilization processes, making sure tools and surfaces are completely free from harmful germs. It helps remove dangerous microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores, from items like surgical instruments, laboratory tools, pharmaceutical products, food processing equipment, and even salon kits. This disinfecting equipment plays a big role in keeping everything safe, clean, and infection-free.

You’ll commonly find sterilization equipment being used in hospitals to clean surgical kits, in labs to prepare glassware and media, in the pharmaceutical industry to sterilize vials and packaging, and in food units to ensure hygienic production. Even salons use these machines to disinfect tools like scissors, razors, and nail equipment to keep hygiene in check.

What is Sterilization?

To explain sterilization simply, sterilization means completely removing all kinds of germs from tools, surfaces, or materials, making them completely safe to use. This includes wiping out bacteria, viruses, spores, and fungi, basically anything that could cause infection or contamination.

There are different sterilization techniques to carry out sterilization process. Some of the most common sterilization methods include high-pressure steam (also called autoclaving), dry heat, chemical gases like ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide vapor, and even UV-C light. The aim is simple: to make sure nothing harmful is left behind, so the item can be safely reused or come in contact with people without risk.

Sterilization Equipment List:

Fumigation Machine

A fumigation machine is a type of sterilization equipment that helps disinfect closed spaces by spreading special gases like formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, or ozone. These gases kill harmful germs like bacteria, viruses, and fungi that might be hiding in corners or on surfaces you can’t clean easily.

This sterilization equipment is useful for delicate or complex instruments that are difficult to clean by hand or with heat. It is commonly used to sterilize instruments like surgical scalpels, forceps, scissors, dental handpieces, vaginal speculums, laryngoscope blades, cystoscopes, bone plates, anesthesia masks, suction tips, and other reusable hospital tools.

There are two common types of fumigation machines:

ULV (Ultra Low Volume) Fogger Machine

A ULV fogger machine sprays disinfectant in the form of very fine droplets, making it ideal for indoor areas such as hospitals, clinics, and offices.

Thermal Fogger Machine

A thermal fogger machine uses heat to turn disinfectant into fog, making it perfect for outdoor use or large open spaces where deep penetration is needed.

Autoclave Machine

An autoclave, also known as a steam sterilizer, is a machine that uses a trusted sterilization technique of high-pressure steam to disinfect tools and equipment. This sterilization equipment is mostly found in hospitals, labs, clinics, and industries where hygiene and safety are a top priority.

This sterilization equipment is useful for durable, heat-resistant instruments that can withstand high-pressure steam. It is commonly used to sterilize retractors, curettes, uterine sounds, dilators, nasal speculums, ear speculums, tongue depressors, urethral sounds, stone baskets, surgical trays, bowls and basins, syringes (glass ones), thermometers, kidney trays, dressing forceps, ambu bags (autoclavable parts), and other reusable hospital tools.

There are different types of autoclave machines depending on the usage and design:

Vertical Autoclave Machine

A vertical autoclave mostly used in labs and clinics, this upright design saves space and is ideal for sterilizing instruments in bulk.

Horizontal Autoclave Machine

A horizontal autoclaves,have a chamber that is wider than it is tall designed for sterilizing large loads and irregularly shaped items in settings like hospitals, labs, and research facilities.

It utilizes high pressure and temperature generated by steam to eliminate pathogens and organic matter, ensuring a sterile environment.

Cooker Type Autoclave Machine

The cooker type autoclave machines are simple and compact, it looks like a pressure cooker and is great for small setups like dental clinics or minor OT rooms.

Wing Nut Type Autoclave Machine

A nut type autoclaveknown for its tight sealing lid with wing nuts, it’s suitable for settings where secure pressure control is essential.

Prons	Cons
Kills all types of germs, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores.	Requires electricity and a water supply to operate efficiently.
Uses high-pressure steam, a reliable and proven sterilization method	It may take some time for the complete sterilization cycle
Safe and eco-friendly – no harmful chemicals used	Needs regular maintenance for best performance
Suitable for hospitals, labs, clinics, and industrial use	Only metal and heat-resistant tools can be sterilized
Easy to use with automatic temperature and pressure controls	Takes up space, so best for setups with a designated sterilization area

Instrument Sterilizer

Instrument Sterilizer is a compact medical device that uses dry heat or chemical sterilization techniques to disinfect small tools and equipment. The high-temperature process or chemical exposure effectively destroys bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. This ensures safe reuse of instruments in clinics, dental setups, and labs.

This sterilization equipment is ideal for quickly disinfecting smaller or frequently used tools in clinics and hospitals. It is commonly used to sterilize, bone chisels, rongeurs, mouth mirrors, dental probes, extraction forceps, scalers and curettes, impression trays (metallic), tenaculum, otoscope tips, bone drills (sterilizable parts), intramedullary nails, saw blades, K-wires, stethoscope parts (heat-resistant), trocars, graspers, camera sheaths, eye speculums, lens forceps, and cataract surgery tools.

Prons	Cons
Compact and user-friendly – great for small clinics and labs	It may not be ideal for very delicate or heat-sensitive instruments
Uses effective techniques like dry heat or chemicals to disinfect	Sterilization time can be slightly longer compared to high-pressure steam units
Requires minimal maintenance and simple operation	Best suited for smaller instruments rather than large surgical sets
Convenient for the quick disinfection of everyday tools	Proper usage and regular checks help ensure maximum effectiveness

UV Disinfection Machine

UV Disinfection Machine uses ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light as a technique to disinfect surfaces and equipment by disrupting the DNA of harmful microorganisms. This sterilization method helps kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi without using chemicals or high heat. It’s commonly used in hospitals, labs, and public areas for quick and contactless disinfection.

This sterilization method uses ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms on the surface of medical tools and equipment without heat or moisture. It is best for items sensitive to high temperatures or moisture. Commonly used for sterilizing dental impression trays (plastic autoclavable type), silicone tubing, camera cables for endoscopes, non-autoclavable otoscope tips, certain stethoscope diaphragms, plastic anesthesia mask parts, and other heat-sensitive medical accessories.

Prons	Cons
Kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi without using chemicals.	Works best on surfaces directly exposed to UV light, so shaded areas may need extra cleaning.
Quick disinfection process, saving time.	Continuous use may require periodic lamp replacement to maintain performance.
Eco-friendly method with no chemical residues.	Effectiveness can be reduced if the UV lamp gets dusty or dirty.
Safe for most equipment and surfaces.	Requires proper safety precautions to avoid direct exposure to skin or eyes.

Medical Refrigerators

A medical refrigerator uses a precise cooling method to keep vaccines, medicines, and samples at a constant safe temperature, usually between 2 °C and 8 °C. This controlled environment helps disinfect storage conditions by stopping bacterial growth and preventing contamination. It’s a must-have in hospitals, clinics, labs, and pharmacies for keeping medical supplies potent and safe.

Medical refrigerators are designed to store temperature-sensitive medical supplies, vaccines, medicines, blood bags, and laboratory reagents at controlled low temperatures to maintain their safety and effectiveness. They are commonly used for storing ophthalmic surgical lenses, certain eye drops, tissue samples, bone graft materials, biopsy specimens, and other perishable medical products that require strict cold chain maintenance.

Types of Medical Refrigerators

Pharmacy Refrigerator

The pharmacy refrigerator usesprecise cooling techniques to maintain the right temperature for Medicines, to help disinfect the storage area and preserve drug quality.

Prons	Cons
Maintains ultra-stable temperatures, typically 2 °C–8 °C, ideal for vaccines and medications.	Requires a proper setup with good ventilation and space for stable performance
Comes with sensitive digital alarms and temperature monitoring to prevent spoilage.	Initial investment may be higher than regular fridges, but it’s worth it for reliability.
Often includes backup power or memory features to protect contents during outages.	Needs periodic maintenance and calibration to stay accurate and dependable.
Security features like locks and alarms help safeguard expensive or critical supplies.	Designed specifically for medical use, so it's best avoided for general food storage.

Formalin Chambers

AFormalin Chamber is a sealed enclosure used to disinfect medical and lab instruments by releasing formaldehyde vapors. This chemical sterilization method effectively kills bacteria, viruses, and spores without heat or water. It offers a safe, airtight environment for treating surgical tools, endoscopes, and heat-sensitive equipment.

Formalin chambers use formaldehyde fumes to sterilize heat-sensitive medical tools. They’re often used for storing and disinfecting endotracheal tubes, catheters, surgical sutures, and rubber-based medical accessories.

Prons	Cons
Delivers thorough sterilization using formaldehyde vapor, ideal for treating heat-sensitive instruments.	Works best in well-ventilated areas or enclosed spaces to reduce fume exposure.
Consistent and reliable chemical sterilant for complex medical and lab devices.	Requires careful handling and safety precautions due to the chemical’s reactive nature.
Effective at killing tough microorganisms, including spores.	Formaldehyde is volatile, and exposure should be minimized for safe use.

Media Preparator

A Media Preparator is a smart lab device that uses a heating and sterilization method, usually involving steam or built-in heating elements, to create and dispense culture media. It helps disinfect the solution by removing microbial contamination before dispensing, ensuring clean and consistent media batches.

A media preparator is used in labs to sterilize and prepare culture media in bulk. It’s commonly used for petri dishes, culture flasks, test tubes, and other lab glassware that require sterile preparation before experiments.

Prons	Cons
Speeds up media preparation by combining mixing, heating, sterilization, cooling, and dispensing into one automated process.	Works best when the lab setup supports integrated plumbing and proper calibration.
Controls temperature and stirring precisely to ensure uniform, sterile media with minimal contamination risks.	Initial cost may be higher than manual methods, though long-term efficiency offsets this.
Reduces manual handling, cutting down errors, and increasing safety during media production.	Requires regular servicing and calibration to maintain sterility and accuracy.
Ideal for preparing large volumes consistently in busy labs (e.g., food testing, pharma, microbiology).	It may be less practical for very small labs or occasional media needs where manual prep is sufficient.

Ozone Sterilizer

An Ozone Sterilizer uses a powerful oxidation technique, relying on ozone gas to disinfect air, water, and surfaces by breaking down the cell walls of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. This method leaves no chemical residue, since ozone safely reverts to oxygen after use.

Ozone sterilizers utilize ozone gas to eliminate microorganisms on moisture-sensitive medical devices. They’re commonly used for sterilizing endoscopy lenses, plastic syringes (disposable type before reuse in labs), silicone catheters, and certain oxygen therapy equipment.

Prons	Cons
Powerful oxidizer that disinfects and eliminates bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores without leaving residues.	Ozone must be generated on-site (it decomposes quickly), and effective use needs a well-sealed space.
Versatile and eco-friendly method—ozone naturally reverts to oxygen, making it residue-free and sustainable.	Requires support from ventilation systems and careful monitoring to avoid inhalation risks.
Effective for sterilizing heat-sensitive materials and hard-to-reach areas.	Prolonged or high-level exposure can be harmful to respiratory health; safe handling is key.

FAQs About Sterilization Equipment:

What equipment is used for sterilization?

Sterilization is done using equipment like autoclaves, hot air ovens, ozone sterilizers, and ETO machines. These machines kill all germs and make instruments safe for reuse.

What are sterilization instruments?

Sterilization instruments are devices that kill all germs from medical tools to make them safe for use.

How long does sterilization equipment take to work?

It depends on the method—usually from a few minutes to a few hours.

Can sterilization equipment be used for all instruments?

Yes, but the type of equipment depends on the tool’s material and heat tolerance.

Does sterilization equipment need regular maintenance?

Yes, regular cleaning and checks keep it working well.

Is sterilization equipment safe for staff to use?Yes, if operated following the safety guidelines.

Can sterilization equipment handle large loads?

Some models are designed for bulk sterilization in hospitals or labs.

Prons	Cons
Reaches and disinfects hard-to-clean or hidden areas easily	Works best in fully sealed or enclosed spaces.
Highly effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores	Needs proper ventilation after use for safety
Saves time and effort compared to manual cleaning	Requires trained personnel for handling disinfectant gases properly
Ideal for labs, hospitals, and pharma setups where hygiene is critical	Not suitable for use when people are present in the area
Can cover large surface areas in one go	Gases like formaldehyde or ozone need to be handled with care