The most used method is the sterilization by heat. According to the type of item to be sterilized, either of these two methods may be chosen:
Steam (autoclave);
Dry heat (ovens);
However, when the item to be sterilized doesn't resist high temperatures (100ºC), the sterilization methods called ¨colds¨are used:
Radiations (rays gamma, ultraviolet);
Chemistry (gases of ethylene oxide), among others.