The controversy of flash sterilization

1. Flash sterilization is only recommended for emergency situations because the speed of the process reduces the margin of safety, increases the possibility of trapped air, and requires a high degree of reliability in the sterilizer. 2. When the weight of the instruments is increased, a greater number of organisms may be present and the heat up time of the sterilizer cycle will be longer. 3. If flash sterilization is used, it is important to know the parameters of the unit, how to use it, and how to transport the items so that they are protected from potential air-borne contaminants.