INACTIVATION OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1, HEPATITIS-A VIRUS, RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS, VACCINIA VIRUS, HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-1, AND POLIOVIRUS TYPE-2 BY HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE GAS PLASMA STERILIZATION

Background: Studies were conducted to determine the capability of a hy drogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization process to inactivate several types of viruses. Six test agents were used: HIV type 1, human hepati tis A virus, respiratory syncytial virus, vaccinia, herpes simplex vir us type 1, and poliovirus type 2. Methods: The test viruses were suspe nded in cell culture medium and dried on the bottom of sterile glass p etri dishes. The inoculated dishes were processed in the hydrogen pero xide gas plasma system for half the normal sterilization cycle time. F our inoculated carriers for each virus were used in two separate half cycles. Infectivity of the test viruses and cytotoxicity to the indica tor cell lines were assayed. Results: The hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization process produced inactivation of the six viral test age nts under these experimental conditions. The reduction in viral titers ranged from 2.5 log(10) to 5.5 log(10), a 99.68% to 99.999% decrease. Conclusions: These results clearly demonstrate the virucidal effectiv eness of the hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization process agains t both lipid and nonlipid viruses.