Chemical indicator
Also called: CI
Chemical indicator — A strip, tape, label or ink that changes colour when exposed to one or more conditions of a sterilization process, classified into six classes by ISO 11140-1.
Chemical indicators give fast, visible evidence that a pack was exposed to a process. They do not prove sterility on their own: that comes from a validated cycle, physical monitoring of time, temperature and pressure, and biological indicators where policy requires them.
ISO 11140-1 groups them into Class 1 (process), Class 2 (specific test such as Bowie-Dick), Class 3 (single variable), Class 4 (multi-variable), Class 5 (integrating) and Class 6 (emulating).
Related termsProcess indicator (Class 1)Multi-variable indicator (Class 4)Integrating indicator (Class 5)Emulating indicator (Class 6)ISO 11140-1