Combined sterilization indicator incubator and reader system

A combined sterilization indicator incubator and reader system, comprising:

• a sterilization indicator vial containing a selected biological indicator and a liquid, wherein the sterilization indicator vial comprises a material of construction, a bottom panel, an interior cavity and an outer side surface, both the material of construction and the outer side surface adapted to transmit light emanating from the interior cavity, the bottom panel adapted to transmit light directed onto the bottom panel into the interior cavity;
• at least two incubator blocks, each incubator block independently operable to incubate the sterilization indicator vial at a plurality of independently selectable temperatures, each of the incubator blocks comprising:
• (a) at least one heating element operable to heat the incubator block to any one of the plurality of independently selectable temperatures;
• (b) at least one well, each well associated with one of the heating element, and each well dimensioned to receive and hold the sterilization indicator vial;
• (c) a light source positioned with respect to each well to direct source light through the bottom panel into the interior cavity of the sterilization indicator vial when the sterilization indicator vial is in the well;
• (d) a photodetector positioned to detect exit light emanating from the interior cavity, the photodetector positioned at an angle relative to a direction from which the source light is directed through the bottom panel of the sterilization indicator vial;
• (e) a user interface operably communicating with a control system, the control system including hardware operable to:
• separately control each heating element to operate at a selected one of the selectable temperatures,
• operate the light source,
• operate the photodetector,
• operate the user interface, the user interface operably communicating with the control system to operate the combined sterilization indicator incubator and reader system, and
• calculate and output data to the user interface relating to efficacy of a sterilization process based upon output from the photodetector during the incubation of the sterilization indicator vial.