Chemical indicator inks are used in several sterilization monitoring processes, as they change color when exposed to certain sterilants at set temperatures. These inks are often used in sterile barrier systems to provide visual evidence of exposure to a sterilization process. These inks are designed to react to specific sterilization conditions, irreversibly changing from one colour to a distinctly different colour as a result of this exposure. The change in color indicates that the sterilization is finished and the instruments are safe for the use.
Chemical
indicator inks are used in various sterilization processes such as vaporized
hydrogen peroxide & plasma, formaldehyde, and many more. It is an ink
composed of a substance that is sensitive to changes in its environment. The
changes it detects are based on the reaction it undergoes when it comes in
contact with certain substances. It is usually a pigment that can be designed
to be transparent, translucent, or even reflective. These types of inks are
commonly used for industrial applications. Increasing
health care spending across Asia Pacific over the last few years has
complemented chemical
indicator inks market share.
A
reaction takes place between the chemical present in the ink and some of the
critical factors of the sterilization process, which then changes and alters
the colour to the expected result. A chemical indicator is a substance that
visibly detects presence of (or lack of) the concentration of chemicals in a
solution, by changing its colour. These indicators are used to monitor whether
the parameters to achieve sterilization have been met for a specific
sterilization process and/or to ensure that specific sterilization guidelines
have been achieved.
Thus,
chemical indicator inks are often used in end use in various end-use
industries, such as healthcare, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries, as neutralization
reaction indicators and in the process of sterilization monitoring. There is an
increasing demand for chemical indicator inks due to rising need for medical
sterilization processes and stringent regulations, such as the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that medical devices or
equipment should be sterilized after each use or discarded.