ETO gas tape is a chemical indicator used in ethylene oxide sterilization. It is applied on the outside of packs or wrapping materials to show whether the items have been exposed to ETO gas during the sterilization process. The tape contains a special chemical ink that changes color when it comes in contact with the gas, providing a clear visual indication.
It acts as an external indicator and is mainly used for identification of processed items. However, it does not confirm whether all sterilization conditions such as time, temperature, and gas concentration were properly achieved. Therefore, it is used for basic monitoring and should be combined with other indicators for complete sterilization assurance.
ETO gas tape is simple to use, easy to interpret, and widely used in hospitals, laboratories, and sterilization units.