Leading hygiene institutes such as the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recommend to use a thermal, machine disinfection process to clean care utensils. Disinfection performance is defined by the A0 value.
THE A0 VALUE...
... is a way to measure how many microorganisms are killed or inactivated in moist-heat disinfection processes.
... is a disinfection parameter that should be reached on the surface of medical devices.
... is based on effectivetemperature-time ratio.
... can be measured using a data-registration device called thermologger.
... is defined in the following norm: EN DIN ISO 15883-1.
Low temperatures for a long contact time
= same efficacy =
as high temperatures for a short contact time
Contact time |
| Temperature | A0 value |
In minutes | In seconds | In °C | |
10 | 600 | 70 | 60 |
1 | 60 | 80 | |
6 | 90 | ||
100 | 6,000 | 70 | 600 |
10 | 600 | 80 | |
1 | 60 | 90 | |
500 | 30,000 | 70 | 3,000 |
50 | 3,000 | 80 | |
5 | 300 | 90 |
Theoretical reference values
HYGIENE SPECIALISTS IN EACH INSTITUTION DECIDE ON THE A0 VALUES TO BE MET, IN CONVERSATION WITH THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES.
THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS APPLY TO CARE UTENSILS:
A0 600:
- (Possible) microbial contamination with bacteria, fungi, temperature-sensitive viruses like coronaviruses and noroviruses
- No heat-resistant, disease-causing microorganisms
A0 3,000:
- Contact with damaged skin (e.g. bedsores)
- for diseases involving thermostable viruses (e.g. hepatitis viruses)
– Minimum –
As per DIN EN 15883-3, an A0 value of 60 may be sufficient if there is certainty that the bedpan will never come into contact with even mildly damaged skin and that no heat-resistant pathogens are present. However, to protect health, its use is not advised.
YOU'RE IN SAFE HANDS WITH MEIKO
MEIKO washer-disinfectors can be activated with your required A0 value at any time. To achieve this, our machines are fitted with several possible settings in the factory.
TOPIC 
APPLIANCES
with MEIKO Airstream (option)
A0 60,
A0 600 (from 2008)
A0 3,000 (from 2013)
TopLine
APPLIANCES
A0 60
A0 600
A0 3,000 (from 2005)
MEIKO TopLine APPLIANCES
A0 60
A0 600
A0 3,000
A0 12,000 (from 2021)