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Gamma Irradiation

The gamma sterilization process uses Cobalt 60 radiation to kill microorganisms on a variety of different products. Processing with gamma yields quick turnaround time, easily penetrating packaging and product, and is ideal for many types of materials.

How does gamma irradiation work?
High-energy photons are emitted from an isotope source (Cobalt 60) producing ionization (electron disruptions) throughout a product. In living cells, these disruptions result in damage to the DNA and other cellular structures. These photon-induced changes at the molecular level cause the death of the organism or render the organism incapable of reproduction. The gamma process does not create residuals or impart radioactivity in processed products.

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What is gamma irradiation used for?
The gamma process can effectively sterilize a wide variety of products composed of different materials, with varying densities, configurations and orientations.

Gamma radiation is ideal for:

What is a typical gamma processing cycle?

  • The product arrives on a truck and is unloaded at the processing facility
  • The product is received by lot and product code that is entered into the STERIS Isomedix Operating Data Management System (ODMS) which provides for run generation, scheduling, processing, certification and release of product for shipment
  • The product is loaded into the carrier/tote per established configurations, dosimeters are placed, and the product is exposed to the radiation field (Cobalt 60 source rack)
  • Dosimeters are analyzed after irradiation of the product is complete, to confirm that the required dose has been delivered
  • All documentation and processing history records are reviewed, and if they are acceptable and Customer specifications are met, the product is released and shipped for use or further distribution

JS1000 Continuous
Gamma Irradiator
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JS10000 Irradiator

JS8900 Batch
Gamma Irradiator
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JS8900 Irradiator


Take a virtual tour of MDS Nordion’s JS10000 production gamma irradiator.

Read our Gamma TechTips to learn more about the gamma irradiation process.