Control of gaseous sterilisation

摘要

The disclosure relates to a method of sterilizing a sealable enclosure comprising the steps of initially adjusting the relative humidity in the enclosure to a level substantially below ambient, circulating a carrier gas to the enclosure at a temperature raised above ambient and supplying a sterilant vapor or vapors to the circulating carrier gas sufficient to saturate substantially the gas. On cooling in the enclosure, a condensate of the sterilant vapor is formed on surfaces in the enclosure, which is measured while continuing to circulate the gas/vapor until a required amount of condensate has been formed on said surface. Supply of sterilant vapor to the gas is terminated while circulating the saturated gas/vapor continues to maintain the condensate on the enclosure surfaces for a predetermined period of time. Finally the sterilant vapor is extracted from the chamber.