It uses pressure and temperature in combination to disinfect and sterilize equipment used in a variety of medical, laboratory, and industrial processes and settings.

Autoclaving is considered one of the most effective and reliable means of sterilizing in these fields. This is due to their disinfection and sterilizing capabilities, which remove harmful microorganisms (e.g. bacteria and spores). Typical loads include laboratory equipment, glassware, surgical instruments, other healthcare or lab supplies like pipette tips, and medical waste.

Autoclave sterilization removes air from its internal chamber. This is due to air being a poor medium for sterilization, because when air is present, the process of effectively cleaning equipment and glassware can be incredibly tedious and not guaranteed.

Instead, most autoclaves utilize high-pressure saturated steam to sterilize equipment, samples, and supplies, subjecting them to an intense sterilization cycle that involves heat and steam for a period of time.

By removing the air and subjecting the load inside to steam and pressure, the chances of something not being fully sterilized are minimized. Using an autoclave to clean and sterilize equipment is also referred to as autoclaving, and can typically be completed in as little as 60 to 90 minutes.