The most used method is the sterilization by heat. According to the type of item to be sterilized, either of these two methods may be chosen:
- Steam (autoclave);
- Dry heat (ovens);
However, when the item to be sterilized doesn’t resist high temperatures (100ºC), the sterilization methods called ¨colds¨are used:
- Radiations (rays gamma, ultraviolet);
- Chemistry (gases of ethylene oxide), among others.