Technology Comparison
Ethylene oxide (EO or EtO) is a simple chemical compound that is commonly used for gaseous sterilization of disposable healthcare products in their final breathable packaging. For more details, please view our TechTeam's ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization resources page.
The following table compares ethylene oxide processing with gamma and electron beam irradiation. Compare the details below to determine if ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization is the right technology solution for your sterilization needs.
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Gamma
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Ethylene Oxide
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Electron Beam
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Process Type
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Continuous
Batch
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Batch
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Continuous
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Process Phases
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Exposure
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Pre-conditioning
Exposure
Aeration
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Exposure
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Process Description
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Radioisotope-generated gamma rays
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Humidity, low-temperature, gaseous process
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Accelerated electrons
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Total Processing Time
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Hours: time varies based on dose requirements
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Hours: time varies based on product material
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Minutes: time varies based on dose requirements
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Product Release
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Dosimetric
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Biological indicators or Parametric release
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Dosimetric
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Penetration
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Complete
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Complete
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Complete, depending on density, material thickness and product orientation
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Material Compatibility
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Most materials
Plastics need to be evaluated
Avoid acetyls, Teflon® and polypropylene
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Nearly all materials
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Most materials
Plastics need to be evaluated
Avoid acetyls, Teflon and polypropylene
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Product Handling
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Aluminum carriers/totes with product placed in pre-determined loading pattern
Off-carrier processing
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Traditional: pallets are transferred between stages via fork truck or conveyor system
EOExpress® processing: entire process takes place in the sterilization chamber
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Conveyor system: uses trays on rollers for processing of boxes and bulk materials
Reel-to-reel system: designed to process various types of wire, cable, and tubing
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Residuals
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None
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Ethylene oxide and ethylene chlorohydrin
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None
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Uses
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Sterilization, accelerated aging and materials modification
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Sterilization
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Sterilization, cross linking and materials modification
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Maintaining Sterile Claim
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Quarterly dose audits
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Validation must be performed at least once every two years with traditional processing, and at least once a year when using parametric release
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Quarterly dose audits
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Teflon® is a registered trademark of DuPont.