Peracetic acid and its application to medical instrument sterilization.

Peracetic acid is recognized as a powerful germicidal agent. However, heretofore its corrosive nature has prevented its direct use for medical instrument sterilization. A specially formulated buffered peracetic acid sterilant with anticorrosives has been developed for use in the STERIS PROCESS. The STERIS SYSTEM 1 Processor and the STERIS 20 Sterilant Concentrate have met or exceed the rigorous requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration for making claims related to sterilization. With this system, medical devices including endoscopes are sterilized and ready for use in less than 30 min.