Understanding The Difference Between Sterility Assurance Level (SAL) And Log Reduction

By Matt Conlon, VP of Market Development, Revox Sterilization

Scientists use a unit of measure known as the sterility assurance level (SAL) in order to assess the effectiveness of a sterilization process. This figure is expressed as the probability of a single item in a batch being non-sterile after subjection to a sterilization process. While logarithmic calculations are also used to express the reduction of probability, it’s important to understand that SAL is not the same measurement as log reduction. Log reduction measurements show the amount or percentage of live microbes eliminated after sterilization. Download this article for a discussion on the difference between these two measurements, and how to use one measurement to calculate the other.