Biological indicator and method
OwnerJoseph P. Dalmassoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A biological indicator including a plurality of metal carriers individually compartmentalized in a package, so that there are a plurality of different incremental population levels of a resistant test microorganism exposed at each site to test the efficacy of sterilization procedures. Preferably, the metal carriers have a surface which has been abraded, and the carriers are placed in a flat package having two parallel sides made of a material such as TYVEK.TM. that is permeable to, and unreactive with, the selected gas, such as H.sub.2 O.sub.2.
Claims18
A biological indicator for use in sterilizing with a selected sterilant gas, comprising:
- (a) a package that is permeable to the sterilant gas;
- and
- (b) a plurality of metal carriers located within the package, each of the carriers having at least one abraded surface, and each of the carriers having a number of spores adhering to the at least one abraded surface of the carrier, wherein the number of spores on the carriers varies incrementally between carriers.
A method of determining efficacy of a sterilization process at a sterilization site with a selected sterilant gas, comprising:
- (a) providing a biological indicator, comprising:
- (i) a package that is permeable to the sterilant gas;
- and
- (ii) a plurality of metal carriers located within the package, each of the carriers having at least one abraded surface, and each of the carriers having a number of spores adhering to the at least one abraded surface of the carrier, wherein the number of spores on the carriers varies incrementally between carriers;
- and
- (b) placing a plurality of packages of the biological indicator at selected locations within the sterilization site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.