STERILIZATION: A PREREQUISITE IN MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS

Sterilization is a critical process with wide-ranging applications in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food production, and laboratory research. Its primary objective is the complete eradication of all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores, from surfaces or substances. This chapter delves into the significance of sterilization, emphasizing its role in infection prevention, product safety, and scientific precision. The chapter outlines various types of sterilization methods, each tailored to specific needs and materials. It focuses on the comparison between dry heat and moist heat sterilization, elucidating their distinctive principles, temperature ranges, advantages, and drawbacks. Additionally, the chapter explores other sterilization methods such as chemical sterilization, radiation sterilization, filtration, and ultraviolet sterilization, providing insights into their mechanisms and applications. Safety considerations and regulatory standards are highlighted, ensuring that practitioners adhere to guidelines when employing sterilization techniques. Real-world examples from healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and other industries demonstrate the practical implications of these methods. With the inclusion of historical context, visual aids, emerging technologies, and a glossary of key terms, this chapter serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding sterilization and sterilization, radiation sterilization, filtration sterilization.