Patent ID: 8142714

Claim:
A method of routine cleaning of and prion destabilization on reusable medical and/or surgical instruments and apparatuses after use and prior to reuse, comprising: a) providing: i) a surface of a reusable medical or surgical instrument or apparatus contaminated with a prion; and ii) a composition comprising surfactants and KOH, wherein said composition has a pH of at least 11.5 when diluted in an aqueous solution in ready-to-use form, for destabilizing prions in the routine mechanical or manual cleaning and/or disinfection of said reusable medical or surgical instrument or apparatus prior to reuse; and b) treating said surface of said reusable medical or surgical instrument or apparatus with said composition, wherein the time of action of the cleaning composition is 5 to 30 min, wherein said treatment causes the destabilization of prions on said surface of said reusable medical or surgical instrument or apparatus, and wherein said treating has less corrosive effect on the material of said surface than treatment of the material of said surface with NaOH at a concentration of 1 N or greater.