A gasket for use with sanitary piping systems contains a receptacle for retaining
an encapsulated bacterial test indicator. The receptacle has a length that permits
the indicator end of the test indicator to be directly exposed to the sterilizing
steam that is introduced into the piping system. The gasket is preferably installed
at the sanitary flange of a short "bull" T-section of the stainless steel sanitary
piping and secured thereto by a stainless steel cap. The stainless steel cap is
recessed to accommodate as much of the test indicator length as may be required
to position the indicator end of the test indicator in the central lumen of smaller
pipe diameters.
