Biological indicator reader with graphical user interface and methods of use

A biological indicator system for detecting an effectiveness of a sterilization process, the system comprising:

• a biological indicator reader for reading a plurality of biological indicators to determine the effectiveness of at least a sterilization process, each biological indicator of the plurality of biological indicators is configured to exhibit fluorescence when the sterilization process has failed,
• the reader comprising:
• a housing having a plurality of biological indicator holders, each holder configured to receive one of the plurality of biological indicators, each biological indicator holder of the plurality of biological indicator holders having a first aperture and a second aperture;
• a horizontal circuit board positioned under the plurality of biological indicator holders and a vertical circuit board orthogonal to the horizontal circuit board and proximate to the plurality of biological indicator holders;
• a heater coupled to the housing and configured to heat the plurality of biological indicator holders to a preselected temperature and a preselected period of time to incubate the plurality of biological indicators;
• an UV light emitter mounted on the vertical circuit board and configured to emit UV light through the first aperture;
• and
• an optical detector mounted on the horizontal circuit board and positioned adjacent to the second aperture of each of the plurality of biological indicator holders, the optical detector configured to detect fluorescence intensity indicating the effectiveness of the sterilization process;
• a controller coupled to the optical detector, the controller configured to receive an input signal emitted when the optical detector receives light exiting each of the plurality of biological indicator holders and to provide an output signal indicating sterilization process failure or success on a graphical user interface;
• and
• a selected biological indicator containing spores, growth media containing a fluorescent moiety, and a crushable container, the selected biological indicator being sterilizable and configured to receive UV light from the UV light emitter.

A method for determining an effectiveness of at least one sterilization process, the method comprising:

• providing a biological indicator reader for reading a plurality of biological indicators to determine the effectiveness of the at least a sterilization process, each biological indicator of the plurality of biological indicators is configured to exhibit fluorescence when the at least one sterilization process has failed, the reader comprising a housing having a plurality of biological indicator holders, each holder configured to receive one of the plurality of biological indicators, each biological indicator holder of the plurality of biological indicator holders having a first aperture and a second aperture;
• a heater coupled to the housing and configured to heat the plurality of biological indicator holders to a preselected temperature to incubate the plurality of biological indicators;
• an UV light emitter configured to emit UV light through the first aperture;
• an optical detector positioned adjacent to the second aperture, the optical detector configured to detect fluorescence intensity indicating the effectiveness of the at least one sterilization process;
• providing a selected biological indicator capable of exhibiting fluorescence to indicate the effectiveness of the at least one sterilization process, the selected biological indicator comprising a crushable container;
• subjecting the selected biological indicator to the at least one sterilization process to obtain a sterilized biological indicator, crushing the crushable container of the sterilized biological indicator to activate the selected biological indicator;
• incubating the activated biological indicator in one of the plurality of biological indicator holders of the selected biological indicator at a preselected temperature and for a preselected period of time;
• emitting UV light through the first aperture of each of the plurality of biological indicator holders;
• detecting fluorescence intensity by the optical detector indicating the effectiveness of the at least one sterilization process, the optical detector coupled to a controller, the controller configured to receive an input signal emitted when the optical detector receives light exiting each of the plurality of biological indicator holders and to provide an output signal indicating sterilization process failure or success on a graphical user interface.