ABC of Safety in the Biological Sciences

 

 

STERILIZATION

Sterilization is a procedure defined as the complete destruction of all micro-organisms including spores^66-68 (disinfection does not destroy spores).

Highly effective sterilisation procedures include moist and dry heat autoclaving, gas sterilisation with ethylene oxide and liquid sterilisation with glutaraldehyde at variable concentrations, hydrogen peroxide at 3 to 6%, formaldehyde at 1 to 8%, chlorine dioxide at variable concentrations, peracetic acid at variable concentrations. Effective disinfection is with alcohols, phenolics and iodine compounds. Quaternary ammonium compounds are not effective sterilising or disinfecting agents.¹²⁷

 

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