scope:

1.1 Inclusions 1.1.1 This European Standard specifies requirements for the development, validation and routine control of a Low Temperature Steam and Formaldehyde (LTSF) sterilization process for medical devices. NOTE: Although the scope of this standard is limited to medical devices, it specifies requirements and provides guidance that may be applicable to other products and equipment. 1.1.2 This European Standard is intended to be applied by process developers, manufacturers of sterilization equipment, manufacturers of medical devices to be sterilized and the organizations with responsibility for sterilizing medical devices. (See EN ISO 14937:2000, Table E.1) 1.1.3 This European Standard covers sterilization processes which use a mixture of low temperature steam and formaldehyde as sterilant, and which are working below ambient pressure only. 1.2 Exclusions 1.2.1 Sterilization processes validated and controlled in accordance with the requirements of this standard should not be assumed to be effective in inactivating the causative agents of spongiform encephalopathies such as scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. Specific recommendations have been produced in particular countries for the processing of materials potentially contaminated with these agents. 1.2.2 This standard does not specify requirements for designating a medical device as ""STERILE"". Such requirements are given in EN 556-1. 1.2.3 This standard does not specify a quality management system for the control of all stages of production of medical devices. NOTE: Attention is drawn to the standards for quality management systems (see EN ISO 13485) that control all stages of production or reprocessing of medical devices including the sterilization process. It is not a requirement of this standard to have a complete quality management system during manufacture or reprocessing, but those elements of such a system that are required are normatively referenced at ...