An air removal test system for verifying adequate air removal during a sterilization cycle of a pre-vacuum type sterilizer, the system comprising: a specimen holder including: a tubular body defining an interior chamber; a closure cap sealable on a first end of the tubular body; and an end plug arranged in a second end of the tubular body, wherein the end plug includes a spiral formed channel providing a single ingress and egress flow path into and out of the interior chamber; and a test strip including: a base element formed from a thermally conductive material having a length and a width, the base element having a recess formed therein; an acrylic adhesive layer provided on the base element; a solid indicator chemical deposited in the recess; a wicking material positioned at least in part in contact with the solid indicator chemical, the wicking material extending less than the length and width of the base element; a film positioned over the base element, the wicking material and the solid indicator chemical; and a coated paper disposed over the film, the coated paper including a window therein,, wherein when the specimen holder with the test strip in the interior chamber is placed in the pre-vacuum type sterilizer, the test strip indicates whether an adequate air removal has occurred during a sterilization cycle in which saturated steam is provided at 134°C for 3.5 minutes ± 5 seconds or at 121°C for 15 minutes ± 5 seconds, wherein the window in the coated paper is arranged at a predetermined distance from the solid indicator chemical such that the solid indicator chemical liquefies and wicks along the wicking material to change the color of the wicking material visible through the window to indicate that the adequate air removal has occurred during the sterilization cycle. a specimen holder including: a tubular body defining an interior chamber; a closure cap sealable on a first end of the tubular body; and an end plug arranged in a second end of the tubular body, wherein the end plug includes a spiral formed channel providing a single ingress and egress flow path into and out of the interior chamber; and a tubular body defining an interior chamber; a closure cap sealable on a first end of the tubular body; and an end plug arranged in a second end of the tubular body, wherein the end plug includes a spiral formed channel providing a single ingress and egress flow path into and out of the interior chamber; and a test strip including: a base element formed from a thermally conductive material having a length and a width, the base element having a recess formed therein; an acrylic adhesive layer provided on the base element; a solid indicator chemical deposited in the recess; a wicking material positioned at least in part in contact with the solid indicator chemical, the wicking material extending less than the length and width of the base element; a film positioned over the base element, the wicking material and the solid indicator chemical; and a base element formed from a thermally conductive material having a length and a width, the base element having a recess formed therein; an acrylic adhesive layer provided on the base element; a solid indicator chemical deposited in the recess; a wicking material positioned at least in part in contact with the solid indicator chemical, the wicking material extending less than the length and width of the base element; a film positioned over the base element, the wicking material and the solid indicator chemical; and <EOS>