Bibby Sterilin has developed a new range of Sterilin double-bagged containers, providing hospitals with an affordable and readily available product which meets the stringent requirements for sterility.

Aseptically-produced, Sterilin polystyrene containers are already used in many hospital wards for sampling body fluids and tissues for subsequent testing in the laboratory. In response to increasing demand from hospital theatre nurses and purchasers, Bibby Sterilin has now developed the gamma-irradiated, double-bagged containers both to ensure complete sterility and prevent contamination between non-operating and operating areas in the theatre.

The range comprises three standard and plain-labelled Sterilin polystyrene containers, sized 30, 100 and 250ml, which all meet the IVD Directive* and bear the requisite CE mark. Each is individually packaged inside the two bags and sterilised by gamma irradiation - denoted by a red dot on the inner bag. The "easy tear" polyethylene bags have been specially designed to allow fast opening by gloved hands.

*Under the EU legislation (IVD-Directive 98/79/EU), all "In-vitro-Diagnostic Medical Devices" used in vitro for the examination of specimens derived from the human body (including blood and tissue donations) must meet specific requirements. This became effective from June 2000 and will be mandatory from December 2003.