A fluorescence bioassay to detect residual formaldehyde from clinical materials sterilized with low-temperature steam and formaldehyde.

Residual formaldehyde after low-temperature steam and formaldehyde sterilization.

The levels of formaldehyde remaining in various articles have been estimated immediately after a low-temperature steam and formaldehyde sterilizing process and after various periods of aeration. These levels have been compared with the levels of ethylene oxide remaining after exposure to an ethylene oxide sterilizing process. In rubber and polythene and a plastic, formaldehyde levels are low an...

Processing urinary endoscopes in a low-temperature steam and formaldehyde autoclave.

Methods of disinfection and sterilisation of urinary endoscopes are considered. A small mobile low-temperature steam and formaldehyde autoclave (Miniclave 80) is evaluated and shown to be satisfactory for this purpose as judged by a variety of relevant microbiological test pieces.

Disinfection of heat-sensitive material by low-temperature steam and formaldehyde.

Steam under subatmospheric pressure at temperatures below 90 degrees C. rapidly killed nonsporing organisms after air had been removed by a high-vacuum pump. Most bacterial spores were killed but small proportions of the populations were very resistant. The destruction of spores was not logarithmic. The addition of formaldehyde vapour to the steam greatly increased its sterilizing power, with d...

Low-temperature sterilization using low-temperature steam and formaldehyde

Testing a steam-formaldehyde sterilizer for gas penetration efficiency.

A test piece is described for monitoring the performance of low-temperature steam-with-formaldehyde sterilizers. Comparative tests have shown it to be more difficult to penetrate than an arterial catheter when exposed to the same sterilizing conditions. It is permanent and simple to use and maintain. The growth or non-growth of bacterial spores, in the convenient form of spore strips, is used t...