Table 12. Application scope and disinfection method depending on sterilization and disinfection levels.

Category	Scope		Method	Required time
Sterilization	Critical instruments	High-temperature sterilization	Steam
			Dry heat
		Low-temperature sterilization	Ethylene oxide gas
			Hydrogen peroxide gas plasma
		Chemical sterilization (immersion)	≥2% Glutaraldehyde	20-25℃, 10 h
			7.5% Hydrogen peroxide	6 h
			0.2% peracetic acid	50 min
			7.35% Hydrogen peroxide + 0.23% peracetic acid	3 h
			1.0% hydrogen peroxide + 0.08% peracetic acid)	8 h
High-level disinfection	Semi-critical instruments	Chemical sterilization (immersion)	≥2% Glutaraldehyde	2%: 20℃, 20 min
				2.5%: 35℃, 5 min
			0.55% ortho-phthalaldehyde	20℃, 12 min
				25℃, 5 min
			7.5% hydrogen peroxide	30 min
			7.35% hydrogen peroxide + 0.23% peracetic acid	15 min
			1.0% hydrogen peroxide + 0.08% peracetic acid	25 min
			650-675 ppm hypochlorite (prepared in situ through electrolysis)	10 min
Intermediate-level disinfection	Partially semi-critical instruments, non-critical instruments	(contact duration ≥1 min)	Active chlorine ≥1,000 ppm
			Sodium hypochlorite
			Phenolic disinfectant
			Iodophor disinfectant
			70-90% alcohol formulation (dthanol/isopropanol)
Low-level disinfection	Non-critical instruments	Chemical sterilization (immersion; contact duration ≥1 min)	Active chlorine ≥100 ppm
			Sodium hypochlorite
			Phenolic disinfectants
			Iodophor disinfectants
			Quaternary ammonium salt formulation
			70-90% alcohol formulation (ethanol/isopropanol)