Method and system for decontaminating materials

摘要

Methods, systems, and devices for decontaminating materials containing biological or biologically derived materials, such as microorganisms or DNA products, are provided. The methods, systems, and devices may be used for decontaminating or sterilizing materials, such as surfaces, including, but not limited to reducing the number of viable microorganisms on surfaces. The methods, systems, and devices may further be used for rendering DNA non-amplifiable in nucleic acid amplification reactions that synthesize DNA amplification products.

主权项

1. A method of decontaminating a material, comprising:
(a) providing a gas phase of an aqueous hydrogen peroxide source that comprises hydrogen peroxide gas at an initial concentration, wherein the gas is provided without nebulization or atomization; (b) contacting the gas phase of the aqueous hydrogen peroxide source with a carrier gas, whereby the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the aqueous hydrogen peroxide source increases to a second concentration that is higher than the initial concentration; (c) adding to the aqueous hydrogen peroxide source, while step (b) is occurring, an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution comprising hydrogen peroxide at a third concentration that is lower than the second concentration; (d) withdrawing, after step (c) has begun, a gas stream comprising the resulting combined gas phase of the aqueous hydrogen peroxide source and the carrier gas at a stable steady-state concentration of hydrogen peroxide; and (e) delivering the gas stream to the material, thereby decontaminating the material.