Test device for checking a pre-vacuum steam sterilization apparatus

Test device capable of checking for the presence of non-condensable undesirable gases, and therefore the quality of the sterilizing steam in a pre-vacuum apparatus intended for sterilization with said steam, and including an envelope holding elements of the device, including a receptacle forming an elongate chamber closed at its distal end and open at its proximal end, in which said chamber contains a filling load occupying at least a portion of its volume, and at least one undesirable gas presence indicator arranged toward the distal closed end of the chamber, wherein:

• the envelope has a high thermal inertia at least around the distal end of the chamber,
• the undesirable gas presence indicator is an electronic temperature sensor, which is able to allow calculation of the proportion of said non-condensable undesirable gas in the atmosphere at the distal end of the chamber,
• the filling load is such that it comprises at least, in the operating position of the chamber, one path enabling a flow by gravity of the water condensed in the chamber from the steam primarily forming the atmosphere of same, to the opening of the proximal end.