Which sterilization process requires test spores to be activated?

The correct choice is indeed Ethylene Oxide sterilization. This method requires the use of test spores, specifically Bacillus subtilis var. niger, to validate the effectiveness of the sterilization process. Ethylene Oxide (EtO) is a gaseous agent that, due to its lower temperature and longer cycle times compared to other methods like steam sterilization, necessitates a confirmation step using biological indicators. These indicators are essential in ensuring that the etch obtained throughout the sterilizer, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, is capable of achieving the necessary bioburden reduction.

Using test spores in this context is vital as it determines whether the sterilization conditions (temp, humidity, gas concentration, and exposure time) were adequate to kill resistant spores, thus confirming the process’s efficacy. After the sterilization cycle, the test spores are incubated to verify that they have been effectively killed, indicating that the process was successful.

Other sterilization methods like steam and low-temperature hydrogen peroxide (LTGP) have different requirements for biological indicators that may not correlate directly to the use of test spores in the same manner as with Ethylene Oxide. Steam sterilization typically uses a different type of challenge organism, while LTGP and low-temperature