Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
General product information, not medical advice. This page describes what autoclave trays are and what the sources say about them. It is not a sterilization procedure; follow the tray maker’s instructions for use and your facility’s validated process.
An autoclave tray holds instruments or packs so that steam can reach them during a cycle and so they can be handled as one unit. The point most catalogues skip is perforation: a tray that blocks steam movement can leave packs wet. This page is for someone choosing between tray types or checking a tray’s paperwork, and it lays out what is in a typical tray set, how stainless steel and plastic trays differ in the sources, and which published rules apply.
Purpose and setting
A tray is a carrier, not a sterile barrier. One plastic-tray instruction sheet says so directly: trays are meant to be used with an overwrap or placed in a closed sterilization container, because an instrument tray is not manufactured to provide a barrier that keeps contents sterile (Plastic Sterilizing Tray Corporation / Titan Medical IFU, last updated January 5, 2026, checked 2026-10-30). For the autoclave itself, see what an autoclave is; for the wraps and pouches that go with trays, see sterilization wrap and sterilization pouches.
What does a typical autoclave tray set contain?
A common stainless set has three pieces. Mopec’s three-piece instrument sterilization tray set lists an instrument tray, a perforated insert tray and a lid, in 18/8, 22-gauge stainless steel, listed as autoclavable and weighing 15 lbs (manufacturer product page, checked 2026-10-30). The table below is that example, labelled “typical” because other makers’ sets differ.
| Category | Item | Quantity | Why it is there | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tray body | Instrument tray | 1 per set | Holds the load | Listed as 18/8, 22-gauge stainless steel |
| Insert | Perforated insert tray | 1 per set | Perforations are the feature the sterilization guidance below turns on | The listing does not say how the insert is meant to be used in a cycle |
| Cover | Lid | 1 per set | Covers the contents | The listing does not say whether the lid is itself a sterile barrier |
Sizes listed for the stainless set
| Model | Length x width x depth | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| BA054 | 20.75 x 12.75 x 6 in | 22 qt |
| BA054-4 | 20.75 x 12.75 x 4 in | 15 qt |
| BA054-6H | 12.75 x 10.375 x 6 in | 10 qt |
| BA054-4H | 12.75 x 10.375 x 4 in | 7 qt |
| BA054-2H | 12.75 x 10.375 x 2 in | 4 qt |
The listing does not state whether these dimensions describe the tray, the insert or the assembled set, and it gives no autoclave temperature or cycle. Those are the details to confirm in the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
Perforated or solid: what the guideline says
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) infection prevention and control guidelines, section 10, say trays used in the steriliser need to be perforated “to allow steam penetration and drainage of condensation”, and “Do not use solid trays: they block steam movement, cause pooling of condensate, and may result in wet packs” (RACGP, “Loading the steriliser”, checked 2026-10-30; page last revised 12 June 2026). That is Australian general-practice guidance, so treat it as one professional guideline, not a universal rule.
The principle behind it appears in US federal guidance. CDC’s steam sterilization page notes that air not removed from the chamber interferes with steam contact (CDC, Disinfection and Sterilization Guideline, page dated November 28, 2023, checked 2026-10-30). The CDC page itself does not set tray-specific rules.
Steel versus plastic trays
| Type | What the source states | What it does not state |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless set (Mopec) | Tray, perforated insert and lid; 18/8 stainless; listed autoclavable | Cycle temperature or time; dimension basis |
| Plastic instrument tray (Titan Medical IFU) | Autoclave or dry heat up to 360 degrees F, ETO and cold solutions; over 1000 cycles when properly handled; used with an overwrap or a closed sterilization container; lid with side tabs | Contents-specific validation, which the sheet leaves to the end user |
The plastic-tray sheet also names a multi-parameter chemical indicator as the sterility assurance device used with the tray. For indicators see chemical indicators in sterilization; for which plastics tolerate steam in general, see which plastics are autoclavable.
What varies by facility type
The sources agree that the user’s own validated process governs. The plastic-tray sheet says its reprocessing instructions are general guidelines that require validation by the end user at the point of use. RACGP says each load must stay within the validated parameters set at annual validation, and any new load configuration that could exceed the validated challenge load needs re-validation. Cycle choice also changes with the sterilizer: CDC lists recognized minimum exposure periods for wrapped healthcare supplies of 30 minutes at 121 C in gravity displacement and 4 minutes at 132 C in prevacuum, and the tray’s rated temperature has to cover the cycle used. See autoclave cycle types.
Storage, expiry and restocking
The plastic-tray sheet says components are inspected after each cleaning for cleanliness, lack of damage and proper function, and that it is not possible for a tray maker to guarantee that contents stay sterile, which is why the tray goes inside an overwrap or closed container. How long a processed pack stays usable is therefore a matter for the facility’s validated process and the wrap or container used, not the tray alone.
Standards and rules that apply
- CDC, Steam Sterilization, Disinfection and Sterilization Guideline (page dated November 28, 2023): exposure periods and air removal.
- RACGP Infection prevention and control guidelines, section 10 (last updated 12 June 2026): perforated trays, loading, validation.
- Manufacturer instructions for use: the controlling document for a specific tray’s rating, cleaning and loading.
FAQ
What is an autoclave tray?
A carrier, usually stainless steel or plastic, that holds instruments or packs during steam sterilization. It is not a sterile barrier on its own and is used with a wrap or a closed container.
Why should an autoclave tray be perforated?
RACGP says perforation allows steam penetration and condensate drainage, and that solid trays block steam movement and may result in wet packs.
Can plastic trays be autoclaved?
One manufacturer’s instruction sheet says its plastic trays handle autoclave or dry heat up to 360 degrees F. Another maker’s tray will have its own rating, so check that tray’s instructions.
Is a tray the same as a pouch or wrap?
No. A tray carries and organizes; a wrap or pouch (or a closed container) is the sterile barrier.
Sources
- CDC, Steam Sterilization: https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/disinfection-sterilization/steam-sterilization.html (checked 2026-10-30)
- RACGP, Loading the steriliser: https://www.racgp.org.au/running-a-practice/practice-standards/racgp-infection-prevention-and-control-guidelines/10-reprocessing-of-reusable-medical-devices-and-ot/process-definition/sterilisation-process (checked 2026-10-30)
- Mopec, 3 Piece Instrument Sterilization Tray Set: https://www.mopec.com/?p=7292 (checked 2026-10-30)
- Plastic Sterilizing Tray Corporation / Titan Medical, IFU Plastic Sterilizing Instrument Trays, updated January 5, 2026: https://www.titanmedicalshop.com/cdn/shop/files/IFU_PLASTIC_STERILIZATION_TRAYS_US_2026.pdf (checked 2026-10-30)
