The Basis of the Danish Choice of Dose for Radiation Sterilization of Disposable Equipment

This report describes the basis of radiation sterilization of medical utensils in Denmark and of the choice of dose for sterilization at Risø of disposable equipment of dry plastic. The possibilities of establishing general criteria for efficient sterilization by comparison with autoclaving are dealt with.

A description is given of the selection of test strains and test pieces for use in fixing the dose for sterilization of a particular.category of utensils and in controlling the microbiological effect of the irradiation. The possibilities of continuous control of disposable equipment based on counting of the micro-organisms present on the equipment prior to irradiation are discussed.

Such day-to-day control must bo assumed to warrant a reduction of the routine dose below the minimum of 4.5 Mrad used in Denmark for dry plastic equipment.