Sterilization and sterile processing equipment appraisals.
Lukes & Lukes is an independent machinery & equipment appraisal firm. We deliver USPAP-compliant opinions of value for the whole sterile processing department: steam sterilizers from tabletop to bulk, washer-disinfectors, ultrasonic cleaners, low-temperature systems, water treatment, instrument tracking and case carts. Each unit is valued on its own market, with installation, utilities and validation history accounted for. Every report is built to withstand lender, SBA, IRS, audit and legal review.
What we appraise
The department, decontamination to sterile storage.
We value the full sterile processing chain, from a single tabletop autoclave in a clinic to a hospital central supply department, and we value each class on its own market. A tabletop unit and a bulk steam sterilizer are different assets with different buyers, and the report treats them that way.
- Steam sterilization: tabletop autoclaves through bulk and pass-through sterilizers.
- Cleaning and decontamination: washer-disinfectors, cart washers and ultrasonic cleaners.
- Low-temperature sterilization: hydrogen peroxide and EtO systems for heat-sensitive instruments.
- Water treatment: RO and DI systems feeding sterilizers and washers.
- Workflow and storage: instrument tracking systems, case carts, prep tables and sterile storage.
What drives the number
Chamber size, utilities and the cost of removal.
Chamber size and throughput class set the market. Tabletop autoclaves trade on a liquid used market with ready buyers in dental, veterinary and outpatient settings, and they hold value accordingly. Bulk and installed sterilizers sit at the other end: they require dedicated steam, drains and ventilation, the installation often costs as much as the machine, and none of that conveys to a buyer who must rig, remove and reinstall. In-place value and removal value can sit far apart, and the report states which one applies. Validation and certification history, biomed service records and a documented maintenance program all move the number, because a unit a buyer can put straight into service is worth more than one that must be requalified.
Which value applies
The right premise for the situation.
The same sterilizer carries different numbers depending on why you need the appraisal. We determine and defend the premise your situation requires.
Common questions
Answers, up front.
How do you value sterilization and sterile processing equipment?
A certified appraiser values each class (steam sterilizers, washer-disinfectors, low-temperature systems, water treatment, workflow equipment) by chamber size, throughput, age, condition and the resale market for that class, under USPAP. Installation and utilities are accounted for, and the premise is matched to the purpose.
Is a bulk sterilizer worth what we paid to install it?
Usually not on the used market. Steam, drain and ventilation work can cost as much as the unit itself, and that installation does not convey. In place and operating, the equipment supports a higher number; removed, the buyer's rigging and reinstallation costs come straight out of the price. The report states which basis applies and why.
Do validation records and service history affect value?
Yes, materially. Documented validation and certification history, biomed service records and current preventive maintenance let a buyer place a unit into service quickly, and the market pays for that. A sterilizer with no paper trail must be requalified before use, and its value reflects the cost and risk.
Are these appraisals accepted by lenders, the SBA and the courts?
Yes. Reports are USPAP-compliant, prepared by a NEBB-certified Machinery & Equipment Appraiser (CMEA), and built to withstand lender, SBA, IRS, audit and legal review.