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Sterilization Assurance

Infection Prevention Load Control
Load Control is the process by which a load is monitored and released based on the result of a biological indicator in a test pack. 3M has a full line of steam and EO biological indicators with results in as little as one hour.
Infection Prevention Pack Control
The use of chemical indicators for internal monitoring of packs, trays, containers and peel pouches. 3M's wide range of chemical indicators immediately identify if the conditions for sterilization have been met on a pack-by-pack basis.
Infection Prevention Equipment Control
3M Equipment Control products reveal if the sterilizer is operating to set conditions of time, temperature, pressure, air removal, moisture conditioning and sterilant exposure.
Infection Prevention Exposure Control
3M's products help identify processed from unprocessed medical devices at a glance. Assures the sterilizer operator that each pack or item has been exposed to the sterilization process, without the need to open the pack.
Infection Prevention Record Keeping
3M record keeping products assist in documenting the sterilization process. Each pack should be labeled so it can be traced back through records in the event of a problem.
Infection Prevention Sterilization/Aeration Equipment
3M offers a full range of operator-friendly 100% Ethylene Oxide Sterilizers and components, for the effective sterilization of heat and moisture-sensitive items.

Why is Sterilization Assurance important?
CDC: "Inadequate sterilization of surgical instruments has resulted in Surgical Site Infection (SSI) outbreaks," according to the 1999 U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Guideline For Prevention of Surgical Site Infection. "Surgical instruments can be sterilized by steam under pressure, dry heat, ethylene oxide, or other approved methods. The importance of routinely monitoring the quality of sterilization procedures has been established. Microbial monitoring of steam autoclave performance is necessary and can be accomplished by use of a biological indicator."

View the complete CDC document (PDF 270kb)

Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 1999, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, p. 261.


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