Paraformaldehyde for surface sterilization and detoxification.

Paraformaldehyde powder, depolymerized by heat, produced formaldehyde gas that was effective in sterilizing laboratory rooms, a mobile laboratory trailer, various surfaces, fiberglass filter medium, and specialized laboratory equipment. A sporulating and nonsporulating strain of bacteria, a virus, and a bacterial toxin were used as test agents. The dissemination procedures and equipment, the assay techniques, and the facilities and equipment sterilized were described.