Sterilization of medical devices by ethylene oxide, determination of the dissipation of residues, and use of Green Fluorescent Protein as an indicator of process control.

Ethylene oxide (EO) is used to sterilize Oxygenator and Tubing applied to heart surgery. Residual levels of EO and its derivatives, ethylene chlorohydrin (ECH) and ethylene glycol (EG), may be hazardous to the patients. Therefore, it must be removed by the aeration process.