A method for obtaining validated sterilization process measurements during a sterilization process of a surgical instrument, said method including the steps of: placing a set of reusable surgical instruments in a container that includes an anti-microbial filter and defines a sterile barrier; performing a test sterilization process on the set of surgical instruments wherein said test sterilization process includes at least one of heating the container, introducing steam into the container, pressurizing the atmosphere in the container or introducing a sterilant into the container that includes a component other than water and wherein by heating the container, introducing steam into the container, pressurizing the atmosphere in the container and/or introducing a sterilant into the container that includes a component other than water in said test sterilization process, an environment in the container is modified to attempt to sterilize the set of surgical instruments; measuring at least one characteristic of the environment in the container with a sensor, with the characteristic comprising at least one of a group comprising a temperature, a pressure and a concentration of a gas, and recording the at least one environmental characteristic, while modifying the environment in the container; evaluating the set of surgical instruments to determine whether the set of surgical instruments is sterilized after said test sterilization process of the set of surgical instruments; executing a subsequent test sterilization process when it is determined that the set of surgical instruments is not sterilized after the test sterilization process, wherein the subsequent test sterilization process is modified from the previous test sterilization process by using fewer surgical instruments as equipment load to modify the contents of the container prior to modifying the environment in the container; the subsequent test sterilization process comprising measuring the at least one characteristic of the environment in the container; and performing said step of evaluating the fewer surgical instruments to determine if the fewer surgical instruments were sterilized after said subsequent test sterilization process; and recording the measured at least one characteristic of the environment in the container as a validated sterilization process measurement for the fewer surgical instruments, when it is determined that the fewer surgical instruments are sterilized. placing a set of reusable surgical instruments in a container that includes an anti-microbial filter and defines a sterile barrier; performing a test sterilization process on the set of surgical instruments wherein said test sterilization process includes at least one of heating the container, introducing steam into the container, pressurizing the atmosphere in the container or introducing a sterilant into the container that includes a component other than water and wherein by heating the container, introducing steam into the container, pressurizing the atmosphere in the container and/or introducing a sterilant into the container that includes a component other than water in said test sterilization process, an environment in the container is modified to attempt to sterilize the set of surgical instruments; measuring at least one characteristic of the environment in the container with a sensor, with the characteristic comprising at least one of a group comprising a temperature, a pressure and a concentration of a gas, and recording the at least one environmental characteristic, while modifying the environment in the container; evaluating the set of surgical instruments to determine whether the set of surgical instruments is sterilized after said test sterilization process of the set of surgical instruments; executing a subsequent test sterilization process when it is determined that the set of surgical instruments is not sterilized after the test sterilization process, wherein the subsequent test sterilization process is modified from the previous test sterilization process by using fewer surgical instruments as equipment load to modify the contents of the container prior to modifying the environment in the container; the subsequent test sterilization process comprising measuring the at least one characteristic of the environment in the container; and performing said step of evaluating the fewer surgical instruments to determine if the fewer surgical instruments were sterilized after said subsequent test sterilization process; and recording the measured at least one characteristic of the environment in the container as a validated sterilization process measurement for the fewer surgical instruments, when it is determined that the fewer surgical instruments are sterilized. measuring the at least one characteristic of the environment in the container; and performing said step of evaluating the fewer surgical instruments to determine if the fewer surgical instruments were sterilized after said subsequent test sterilization process; and recording the measured at least one characteristic of the environment in the container as a validated sterilization process measurement for the fewer surgical instruments, when it is determined that the fewer surgical instruments are sterilized.