TY - JOUR T1 - A Tale of Two Sterilizers JF - PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology JO - PDA J Pharm Sci Technol DO - 10.5731/pdajpst.2019.009993 SP - pdajpst.2019.009993 AU - James P Agalloco Y1 - 2019/01/01 UR - http://journal.pda.org/content/early/2019/02/05/pdajpst.2019.009993.abstract N2 - Steam sterilization is widely used across the healthcare industry, and among the most documented and standardized. Despite its broad application, there is considerable confusion regarding the different process control consideration and sterilizer designs necessary for its successful use. The methods and equipment used for porous (equipment, components and tools) loads are established to address air removal and steam penetration as these are critical to process efficacy. Sterilizing processes and equipment for non-porous loads (sealed aqueous containers) seek to minimize variations across the load, and minimizing over-processing. These distinctions are not always evident in publications. United States Pharmacopieal content brought attention to these differences in Sterilization by Direct Contact <1229.1> and Moist Heat Sterilization of Aqueous Liquids <1229.2>. This publication provides expanded content beyond that found in USP in a side-by-side comparison of the process considerations and equipment design details. It also reviews sterilization practices in laboratory, formulation and biowaste sterilization applications which often require the simultaneous sterilization of porous and non-porous items. ER -