Water compliance testing for medical and allied health practices
Any practice that reprocesses reusable instruments — podiatry, GP, physiotherapy, specialist clinics and day surgery — has one water testing obligation under AS 5369:2023. We handle it — monthly routine monitoring and annual audit — with NATA-accredited results and zero admin on your end.
Your Compliance Obligations
Accreditation obligation
Sterilisation Room Water Testing
AS 5369:2023 · Tables 7.2, 7.4 & 8.1
Any practice that reprocesses reusable instruments is expected by their accreditation body to test the water in their sterilisation room. The purified water used to rinse instruments before sterilisation must meet strict chemistry and microbiology limits — tested monthly for routine monitoring and annually for a full audit.
Who this applies to
Any practice that reprocesses reusable instruments
AS 5369:2023 · Scope
If your practice uses reusable instruments on patients and sterilises them on-site, AS 5369:2023 applies. This covers the vast majority of podiatry, GP, physiotherapy, specialist, and day surgery facilities across Australia.
Day surgery and endoscopy facilities may have additional requirements. Contact us for a custom assessment.
Products and Pricing
Everything your practice needs. Sample kit, courier and accredited report Included.
All prices ex GST · Kit, courier and NATA-accredited report included
AS 5369:2023 requires monthly testing of the water in your sterilisation room. Routine monitoring confirms bacteria levels and key chemistry parameters are within specification every month.
Order now →
Kit dispatched within one business day of order.
Once a year, AS 5369:2023 requires a full parameter screen of your washer-disinfector final rinse water. This goes beyond the monthly routine test to include endotoxins, iron, phosphates and silica.
Note: Also required when a new washer-disinfector or RO filter is installed. If your washer and autoclave share a water supply, see the Combined Audit below.
Order now →
Kit dispatched within one business day of order.
Your autoclave requires chemically pure feedwater to function correctly and protect instruments. AS 5369:2023 Table 7.4 sets strict chemistry and metals limits for dedicated steam generator feedwater.
Note: Applies to dedicated steam generator autoclaves. Also required at new autoclave installation (IQ/OQ). If your washer and autoclave share a water supply, see the Combined Audit below.
Order now →
Kit dispatched within one business day of order.
If your washer-disinfector and autoclave are fed from the same RO water supply, a single sample satisfies both Table 7.2 and Table 7.4 in one submission. The most common scenario for practices with a single RO unit — and the most cost-effective option. Order now → Kit dispatched within one business day of order.
Note: For practices where the washer-disinfector and autoclave have separate water supplies, use the individual Table 7.2 and Table 7.4 products above.
Required — Monthly
SWL-R
Monthly Sterilisation Room Test
AS 5369:2023 Table 8.1 · Routine Monitoring
$442
/ month
ex GST · Year 1
ex GST · Year 1
AS 5369:2023 requires monthly testing of the water in your sterilisation room. Routine monitoring confirms bacteria levels and key chemistry parameters are within specification every month.
Conductivity, hardness and chloride
Total Viable Count (TVC) by R2A membrane filtration — Year 1
One sample covers your whole facility or practice
NATA-accredited Certificate of Analysis
Year 2+
$333/ mo
After 12 months of consistently passing results, AS 5369:2023 allows TVC testing to drop from monthly to annual. Year 2 kits cover chemistry only — conductivity, hardness and chloride.
Required — Annual
SWL-W
Washer-Disinfector Annual Audit
AS 5369:2023 Table 7.2 · Final Rinse Water
$949
ex GST
per annual submission
per annual submission
Once a year, AS 5369:2023 requires a full parameter screen of your washer-disinfector final rinse water. This goes beyond the monthly routine test to include endotoxins, iron, phosphates and silica.
pH, conductivity, hardness, chloride
Iron, reactive phosphates, reactive silica
Total Viable Count (TVC)
Bacterial Endotoxins (LAL) — ≤0.25 EU/mL
Reported against all AS 5369:2023 Table 7.2 limits
NATA-accredited Certificate of Analysis
Required — Annual
SWL-A
Autoclave Feedwater Test
AS 5369:2023 Table 7.4 · Autoclave Feedwater
$795
ex GST
per annual submission
per annual submission
Your autoclave requires chemically pure feedwater to function correctly and protect instruments. AS 5369:2023 Table 7.4 sets strict chemistry and metals limits for dedicated steam generator feedwater.
pH, conductivity, hardness, chloride (strict limits)
Evaporative residue (Total Solids)
Reactive silica and phosphates
Full heavy metals screen — Cd, Pb, As, Hg + others
Colour and appearance
NATA-accredited Certificate of Analysis
Required — Annual
SWL-C
Combined Sterilisation Room Audit
AS 5369:2023 Tables 7.2 + 7.4 · Combined Submission
$1,249
ex GST
per annual submission · saves $495 vs separate
per annual submission · saves $495 vs separate
If your washer-disinfector and autoclave are fed from the same RO water supply, a single sample satisfies both Table 7.2 and Table 7.4 in one submission. The most common scenario for practices with a single RO unit — and the most cost-effective option. Order now → Kit dispatched within one business day of order.
All Table 7.2 parameters — washer-disinfector final rinse
All Table 7.4 parameters — autoclave feedwater
Bacterial Endotoxins (LAL) and Total Viable Count (TVC)
Full heavy metals screen
One sample — reported against both Table 7.2 and 7.4 limits
NATA-accredited Certificate of Analysis
How It Works
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Step 1 - We send you a kit
A sample kit is sent to your business. Everything you need is included.
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Step 2 - Collect the sample
The process takes about 5 minutes. Step-by-step instructions included. Your practice manager or dental assistant can do this.
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Step 3 - Priority pick up
Call the priority number in your kit, quote your pre-paid barcode, and a courier collects directly from your reception desk — no accounts, no paperwork, no cost to you.
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Step 4 - Receive your results
Your NATA Certificate of Analysis and audit-ready compliance report are emailed within 5–7 business days — benchmarked against AS 5369:2023 limits and ready to file for your next accreditation review.
Your compliance report, clearly explained
Every test includes a NATA-endorsed Certificate of Analysis and an audit-ready compliance report. Your report shows each parameter, the result, the regulatory limit, and whether it is within specification. Everything you need to file for your compliance records.
Issued by a NATA-accredited laboratory under ISO/IEC 17025
Results benchmarked against AS 5369:2023 limits
NATA accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025 is the recognised standard for documentary evidence in any professional board or accreditation body review
Emailed within 5–7 business days of sample receipt
NATA Certificate of Analysis attached as PDF — ready to file
Example report uses fictitious practice and sample data.
Compliance Labs
Water Quality
Compliance Report
NATA Endorsed
Compliance Report
Standard
AS 5369:2023 Table 7.2 — Final Rinse Water (Washer-Disinfector)
Chemistry
Microbiology
| Parameter | Result | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.4 | 5.0–7.0 | Within limits |
| Conductivity | 18 µS/cm | ≤30 µS/cm | Within limits |
| Total Hardness | <1 mg/L | ≤2 mg/L | Within limits |
| Chloride | 8.2 mg/L | ≤50 mg/L | Within limits |
| Reactive Phosphate | 0.08 mg/L | ≤0.3 mg/L | Within limits |
| Silica (Reactive) | 0.12 mg/L | ≤1.0 mg/L | Within limits |
| Iron (total) | <0.02 mg/L | ≤0.2 mg/L | Within limits |
| Parameter | Result | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacterial EndotoxinsLAL kinetic-chromogenic | 0.04 EU/mL | ≤0.25 EU/mL | Within limits |
| Heterotrophic Colony CountR2A agar, membrane filtration | <1 CFU/100mL | ≤100 CFU/100mL | Within limits |
Prepared by a NATA-accredited laboratory in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025. Results relate solely to the samples as received. This report must not be reproduced except in full without written approval from Compliance Labs.
CL-2026-07832
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Common Questions
AS 5369:2023 applies to any practice that reprocesses reusable instruments on-site — including podiatry, GP with procedure rooms, physiotherapy, specialist clinics, and day surgery facilities. If your practice sterilises instruments in an autoclave, this standard applies. Practices that use single-use instruments only and do not operate a steriliser are not covered.
The water in your sterilisation room — specifically the purified water that your washer-disinfector uses for its final rinse cycle, and the water that feeds your autoclave. This is typically produced by a reverse osmosis (RO) unit. It is not your tap water or the water your staff drink. Routine monitoring of this water is required monthly, with a full audit annually.
The monthly test is routine monitoring — bacteria levels and key chemistry parameters checked every month to confirm your system is within specification. The annual audit is a more comprehensive screen covering all AS 5369:2023 parameters including endotoxins, iron, phosphates, silica and a full heavy metals screen. Both are required — they are complementary obligations, not alternatives.
It depends on your setup. AS 5369:2023 specifies separate water quality requirements for washer-disinfector final rinse water (Table 7.2) and autoclave feedwater (Table 7.4). If both are fed from the same RO outlet, a single sample can satisfy both obligations — use the Combined Sterilisation Room Audit and save $495 compared to testing separately. If they have separate water supplies, you need both tests individually. Contact us if you are unsure which applies to your practice.
Yes. Sample collection takes around 5 minutes and requires no specialist training. Clear step-by-step instructions are included in every kit. Your practice manager or any staff member can collect the sample during a quiet moment in the day. No lab visit is required.
AS 5369:2023 requires testing at initial qualification (when a new washer-disinfector or autoclave is installed or commissioned), after any significant maintenance or repair to your water treatment system, and when a routine result exceeds a limit and your system has been serviced. Don't wait for your annual cycle if your equipment has changed — test immediately.
We'll notify you immediately with a plain-English explanation of which parameter exceeded its limit and by how much. Most exceedances are resolved by servicing your RO filter or flushing the system. AS 5369:2023 requires you to investigate the cause, take corrective action, and retest before returning to routine monitoring. We offer a post-exceedance retest kit to support this process.
NATA accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025 is the standard of laboratory evidence recognised by the Australian Government, AHPRA, infection control auditors and the courts. If your practice is ever subject to an inspection, a patient complaint, or an accreditation review, a NATA-accredited Certificate of Analysis is the documented, independent evidence you need. Internal testing or non-accredited results do not provide the same level of defensibility.
Testing is not framed as a direct statute but the compliance obligation is real. AHPRA registration renewal requires practitioners to affirm compliance with infection prevention and control standards. The relevant boards expect practices to follow AS 5369:2023 where it applies. Practices without documented testing results are exposed — during an accreditation review, an infection control audit, a patient complaint, or an AHPRA investigation, the absence of testing records is a gap that cannot be explained away.
Your NATA Certificate of Analysis and plain-English results summary are emailed within 5–7 business days of the laboratory receiving your sample. Some parameters require a minimum incubation period under the standard method — this cannot be shortened without compromising the result. Your certificate is attached as a PDF and ready to file immediately on receipt.