| abstract |
Methods are disclosed for sterilizing heart valves to reduce the level of one or more active biological contaminants or pathogens therein, such as viruses, bacteria, (including inter-and intracellular bacteria, such as rnycoplasmas, ureaplasmas, nanobacteria, chlarnydia, rickettsias), yeasts, molds, fungi, prions or similar agents responsible, alone or in combination, for TSEs and/or single or multicellular parasites. The methods involve sterilizing one or more heart valves with irradiation. |