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Preface

This is the first edition of CSA PLUS 1173, Guide to the selection and use of sterilization indicators. This handbook has been developed to answer general questions in all health care and personal service settings where monitoring of the effectiveness of reprocessing of medical devices takes place.

CSA gratefully acknowledges the valuable work of Patrick McCormick, the author of this document. Dr. McCormick has been a member of the CSA Technical Committee on Sterilization since 1995 and of the AAMI Sterilization Standards Committee since 2002.

CSA also gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Anne-Marie Rancourt, Colleen Landers, Dianne Trudeau, Gale Schultz, Joan Thompson, Laurie Buist, Lorna Coutoulas, Linda Jakeman, Linda Kingsbury, Merlee Steele-Rodway, Pat Piaskowski, Patrick Quinn, Rupinder Khotar, Sue Lafferty, Susan Hadfield, Tim Richardson, and Michelle Alfa as peer reviewers of this manuscript.

This Guide complements the CSA Z314 series of Standards, which sets out requirements for medical device cleaning, decontamination, and sterilization in health care facilities.