Class S and Class N autoclaves exist for a reason—but not for every environment. Class N works for solid tools only. Think nail salons, basic esthetic tools, and labs handling dry instruments without blood exposure. Class S sits in the middle—approved for specific loads only, depending on manufacturer validation. But if you’re reprocessing tools that contact blood, tissue, or internal fluid, the word that matters is simple: Class B.
Before you even look at prices, features, or brand names, you have to answer one question honestly: what am I putting into this machine? If your tools ever touch blood—even once—your sterilization standard shifts immediately. A Class B autoclave uses pre-vacuum cycles to remove air from hollow instruments—such as handpieces, lumens, and internal suction channels—so steam can penetrate where danger actually hides. And it’s the difference between surface “clean” and true biological kill.