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 Steam is still the gold standard when it comes to sterilization; it's quick, cheap and effective. Unfortunately, it can't be used on all your instruments because of the high temperatures - and resultant wear and tear - it subjects them to. While there are clear advantages to ethylene oxide (EtO) as the less-corrosive alternative, and it has been in use for more than 40 years, high operating costs, long cycle times, flammability and high toxicity have driven the development of alternatives. The two latest: hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization (HPGPS), which is environmentally friendlier, faster, convenient and more cost-effective than EtO; and ozone which, while significantly slower than gas plasma, is considerably less expensive, and - in certain applications - may offer a better alternative.
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