Table 9. Characteristics of an ideal low-temperature sterilization process

• High efficacy: the agent should be virucidal, bactericidal, tuberculocidal, fungicidal and sporicidal
• Rapid activity: ability to quickly achieve sterilization
• Strong penetrability: ability to penetrate common medical-device packaging materials and penetrate into the interior of device lumens
• Material compatibility: produces only negligible changes in the appearance or the function of processed items and packaging materials even after repeated cycling
• Nontoxic: presents no toxic health risk to the operator or the patient and poses no hazard to the environment
• Organic material resistance: withstands reasonable organic material challenge without loss of efficacy
• Adaptability: suitable for large or small (point of use) installations
• Monitoring capability: monitored easily and accurately with physical, chemical, and biological process monitors
• Cost effectiveness: reasonable cost for installation and for routine operation