ISO-11135 For Eto Sterilization

ISO-11135 For ETO Sterilization

What is ISO 11135?

国际标准化组织 11135:2014 specifies requirements for the development, 验证, and routine control of an ethylene oxide (环氧乙烷) sterilization process for medical devices. This standard applies to both industrial settings and healthcare facilities, acknowledging the critical balance between process efficiency and patient safety.

Implementation of the Sterilization Process

The sterilization process is executed by high-precision ETO Sterilizers installed within a factory or dedicated sterilization station. To ensure maximum safety, the control system is typically installed in a separate room, remotely managing the process based on pre-defined parameters and stringent safety requirements.

Gas Requirements & Safety

The sterilization agent used is typically Pure Ethylene Oxide (环氧乙烷) mixed with nitrogen or carbon dioxide. At BOCON, we suggest an EO gas percentage of no less than 30% to maintain sterilization efficacy; otherwise, the chamber structure must be significantly strengthened.

Important Safety Notice Regarding EO Gas:
  • Highly Toxic: Requires strict atmospheric monitoring.
  • Flammable: Potentially explosive from 2.6% volume in air.
  • Risk Management: Handling, storage, and usage must be managed with extreme care and compliant equipment.

Stages of the ETO Sterilization Process

According to ISO 11135, the ethylene oxide sterilization cycle is divided into three critical stages:

1. Preconditioning Initial heating and humidification to prepare microorganisms for EO exposure.
2. 消毒 Precision EO injection and defined exposure time to ensure microbial lethality.
3. 通风 EO removal and air washing to eliminate residual gas from products and packaging.

Validation of EO Sterilization (国际标准化组织 11135)

Process Validation is a mandatory requirement to prove the process consistently yields sterile products. It consists of 3 primary stages:

  • 智商 (Installation Qualification): Verification that equipment is installed correctly.
  • 氧气质量 (Operational Qualification): Verification that equipment operates within defined limits.
  • 质子Q (Performance Qualification): Consisting of MPQ (Microbiological) 和 PPQ (Physical) to demonstrate the process works for your specific product load.

Need Expert Guidance on ISO 11135 遵守?

BOCON provides turnkey ETO sterilization solutions including equipment design and validation support.