Sterilisering

Specifies the requirements and the relevant tests for sterilizers intended to be used for the terminal sterilization of health care products (medical devices or medicinal products) presented as aqueous liquid in sealed containers. The container can be rigid, semi rigid or flexible. The sterilizing agent, moist heat, is created internally from the product, heating being achieved by use of saturated steam, mixtures of steam and a pressure ballasting non-condensing gas such as air or super-heated water in the sterilizer chamber. The sterilizers can be used in both a health care and industrial setting. This standard does not apply to sterilizers using saturated steam for the sterilization of the surfaces of medical devices or sterilizers used in laboratories. NOTE 1 Sterilizers using saturated steam for sterilizing the surfaces of medical devices are covered by EN 285 and EN 13060. Laboratory sterilizers are covered by some national standards. NOTE 2 Sterilizers conforming to NWIP ISO XXXXX can also be used for the sterilization of other aqueous liquid in sealed containers such as veterinary products or some foodstuffs. Note 3 Sterilizers conforming to NWIP ISO XXXXX can also be used for the sterilization of a contained product enclosed within a sterile barrier system conforming to the EN ISO 11607 series of standards.

ISO 11737-1:2018 specifies requirements and provides guidance on the enumeration and microbial characterization of the population of viable microorganisms on or in a health care product, component, raw material or package. NOTE 1 The nature and extent of microbial characterization is dependent on the intended use of bioburden data. NOTE 2 See Annex A for guidance on Clauses 1 to 9. ISO 11737-1:2018 does not apply to the enumeration or identification of viral, prion or protozoan contaminants. This includes the removal and detection of the causative agents of spongiform encephalopathies, such as scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. NOTE 3 Guidance on inactivating viruses and prions can be found in ISO 22442‑3, ICH Q5A(R1) and ISO 13022. ISO 11737-1:2018 does not apply to the microbiological monitoring of the environment in which health care products are manufactured.