title: Steam sterilization:  a suitable alternative?
abstract: Extracorporeal blood-circuit devices can be sterilized by ethylene oxide (EtO), irradiation, or steam.  The majority of these devices are sterilized by the first two processes, and the use of steam sterilization seems to be limited.  This article compares the different processes, discusses their advantages and disadvantages, and makes a case for sterilizing these products by steam.
authors.affiliation: Süddeutsche Feinmechanik GmbH, Wächtersbach, FRG.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Büttner
mesh_terms: D005027:Ethylene Oxide; D005062:European Union; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D011786:Quality Control; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D013227:Steam; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards