Low temperature vapor phase sterilization and storage of biologically active injectable materials

Abstract

A method for sterilizing solid particulate materials intended to be mixed with a liquid carrier prior to the parenteral or hypodermic introduction into the body of humans and animals. The predetermined amount of particulate material is placed in a sealable container, an amount of ethyl alcohol sufficient to produce a vapor concentration in said container which is toxic to any microorganisms in the particulate material, is added to the container and the container is sealed. When ready for use, the contents of the container may be mixed with sterile water for introduction into the body of humans and animals. This method is particularly useful with materials which tend to decompose when stored as a solution or when exposed to the conditions of normal sterilization procedures and a preferred embodiment involves the sterilization of fine crystalline sodium ascorbate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.