Classification Of Sterilization Technologies

  Surgical instruments must be free of visibly contaminants before undergoing any form of sterilization. Blood and debris can mask microorganisms, hinder effective sterilization, and contaminate the surgical environment. Ultrasonic cleaning helps remove residual blood and debris from instrument case locks and grip surfaces. I. Physical Sterilization Methods (Most commonly used, preferred, residue-free, safe and efficient, mainstream in laboratory/medical/industrial applications)

1. Moist Heat Sterilization (Most widely used, best results)

Autoclaving: Essential for laboratories, 121℃, 0.1MPa, 15-20min, kills all microorganisms (including spores); suitable for: culture media, glassware, gauze, metal instruments, and sterile water.

Boiling: 100℃ for 1-2 hours, for home/emergency use; suitable for: tableware, drinking water, and simple instruments.

2. Dry Heat Sterilization

Dry heat oven sterilization: 160-170℃ for 2 hours, suitable for heat-resistant but not moisture-resistant items; suitable for: glassware, metal tools, ceramics, and powders/greases.

Flaming sterilization: Heated to red-hot temperature with an alcohol lamp, absolutely sterile; suitable for: inoculating loops, inoculating needles, and test tube/bottle mouths (essential for microbiological operations).

3. Radiation Sterilization (Heatless Sterilization, Industrial Batch Use)

Gamma Rays (Cobalt-60): Extremely strong penetrating power, sterilizes at room temperature; suitable for: disposable medical consumables, plastics, food.

Ultraviolet Sterilization: Disinfection only, not sterilization! Extremely weak penetrating power, only kills surface/airborne live bacteria, does not kill spores; suitable for: laminar flow hoods, sterile room countertops/air disinfection.

4. Filtration Sterilization (Heatless For Heat-Sensitive Items)

Physically removes microorganisms using a 0.22μm microporous membrane without altering the properties of the material; suitable for: serum, enzyme solutions, antibiotics, heat-sensitive components of culture media, sterile air (liquids/gases that are inactivated at high temperatures).

II. Chemical Sterilization (Chemical reagent sterilization, residues remain) This method uses chemical reagents to destroy the structure of microorganisms and kill spores. It is only suitable for items that do not come into contact with food or wounds. It is divided into sterilization grades (true sterilization), and disinfection grades are not considered sterilization.

1. Ethylene oxide: Broad-spectrum sterilization with strong penetrating power, suitable for precision instruments and plastic consumables.

2. Glutaraldehyde/peracetic acid: Commonly used in hospitals for sterilizing endoscopes, metal instruments, and environmental surfaces.

3. Formaldehyde fumigation: Sterilization in enclosed spaces, used in sterile environments, but is irritating.

1. The most common sterilization method in laboratories: autoclaving; immediate sterilization for microbial operations: incineration.

2. The only sterilization method for heat-sensitive liquids (such as serum): filtration.

3. The core criterion for determining whether sterilization has occurred: whether it can kill spores. If it can, it's sterilization; if it cannot, it's disinfection.

  Yingtai Medical is a professional medical device manufactuer, producing infection control disposable products like surgical drape packs,surgical gowns,and disposable personal protective items.We have 6,000 ㎡ of 100,000 level clean workshop,and 10,000 level testing center ,to test the material and products and make sure each lot of products produced up to our customers' required standards.