Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 10:00 AM
S120
Use of ionizing radiation to inactivate biohazard agents
R. Joel Lowy and Thomas B. Elliott. Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 8901 Wisconsin Av., Bethesda, MD 20889
Ionizing radiation is extensively used for the sterilization or sanitization of some foods, medical devices and biomedical clinical and research expendable items. Use of ionizing radiation has the advantages of being generated by well understood, stable processes; delivered doses can be measured precisely; and having high levels of penetration through many materials. Methods and procedures in industrial settings are well established and there is high assurance that all materials have been exposed to the required, sterilizing radiation dose. Application of methods based on these principles to research settings, field work, or other novel applications requires careful reconsideration of commonly used processes and procedures. The radiation sensitivity of an unusual target organism may be less well characterized and the need may be to decontaminate more diverse types of materials than those commonly encountered. Additional issues to provide optimal decontamination can include the specific type of radiation source best used, physical condition of the contaminated material, the use of the materials after irradiation, and the amount of material to be processed. The purpose of this presentation is to review these and other technical issues that need to be addressed in these less typical applications.
See more of Biodefense: Control of biological agents and pathogens
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See more of The Annual Meeting and Exhibition 2009 (July 26 - 30, 2009)
See more of Invited Oral Papers
See more of The Annual Meeting and Exhibition 2009 (July 26 - 30, 2009)