| Methodology |
Penetration of sterilant gas into packaged product |
Irradiation of product using photons from radioisotope |
Product sterilized using ionizing energy from electron beam |
Products sterilized using ionizing energy from Rhodotron electron beam |
| Efficacy |
Process efficacy confirmed by biological indicators and/or process monitoring |
Process parameters confirmed by dosimetry |
Process parameters confirmed by dosimetry |
Process parameters confirmed by dosimetry |
| Penetration |
Requires gas permeable packaging and product design |
Good penetration complete even at high densities (> 0.4 gm/cc) |
Efficient penetration at bulk densities between 0.05 – 0.30 gm/cc |
Excellent penetration for all product types |
| Material Compatibility |
Requires gas permeable packaging and product design |
Good penetration complete even at high densities (> 0.4 gm/cc) |
Efficient penetration at bulk densities between 0.05 – 0.30 gm/cc |
Excellent penetration for all product types |
| Turnaround Time |
Days: Conventional = 9-10 days. EOExpress® = one day |
Hours: time varies based on dose requirements |
Minutes: time varies based on dose requirements |
Hours: time varies based on dose requirements |
| Process |
Complex process: Variables include exposure time, temperature, humidity and EO concentration Non-process variables impacting lethality include load density, packaging, and winter shipping conditions. |
Simple process: Variables include time in the cell and isotope load |
Complex process: Variables include scan height, processing speed, number of passes, and orientation to the beam |
Moderately complex process: Variables include processing speed, number of passes and number of pallets on conveyor |
| Product Handling |
Traditional processing: pallets are transferred between stages via fork truck or conveyor system EOExpress® processing: entire process takes place in the sterilization chamber |
Aluminum totes/pallets with product placed in pre-determined loading pattern |
Aluminum carriers with product placed in pre-determined loading pattern, or boxes placed directly onto conveyor |
Products processed via pallets, in predetermined loading pattern |
