[Sterile packaging]

After decontamination, cleaning, maintenance and functional testing, sterilized items must be packed suitably. The package must protect sterilized items against microbial contamination during removal from the sterilising chamber, and during storage or transport until use. The sterilized material must be packaged in suitable packaging material in accordance with the sterilising method. Sterilization packaging must conform to standards. There are not Polish standards for sterile packaging of medical devices. The article give general guidelines about: properties of sterile packaging, various national standards and European Standard, the packaging materials, general compatibility with the sterilization process which is intended to be used, general compatibility with the package forming process, and shelf life considerations.