The Sterways Process (Process) provides a means of terminally steriliz
ing and virally inactivating blood products. The Process uses gamma ra
diation in a controlled manner to achieve maximum viral kill with mini
mal product loss. This goal is achieved by controlling the dose rate f
or the particular product and formulation in question. Because The Pro
cess uses gamma radiation it not only inactivates known viruses but al
so emerging or mutating viruses. (C) 1998 The International Associatio
n of Biological Standardization.