Chemical indicator and method of use

1. A peracetic acid decontamination chemical indicator comprising:

a substrate; and

an indicator composition disposed thereon,

wherein the indicator composition comprises a colorant that reacts to change color when exposed to a peracetic acid solution but does not change color when exposed to a hydrogen peroxide solution, an acidified hydrogen peroxide solution, or an acetic acid solution, wherein the colorant includes a moiety selected from the group consisting of an azido, a benzothiazole, a benzoxazole, an indole, a pyrazole, a pyridine, a stilbene, a styrene, a sugar, and combinations thereof, and wherein the indicator composition does not include a transition metal salt or a halogen source;

wherein the substrate is a selected from the group consisting of a nylon membrane, a silica particle, a polyethylene terephthalate film, and combinations thereof;

wherein the nylon membrane is selected from the group consisting of an uncharged nylon membrane, a positively charged nylon membrane, a negatively charged nylon membrane, and combinations thereof;

wherein the silica particle is selected from the group consisting of a positively charged silica particle, a negatively charged silica particle, and combinations thereof;

with the proviso that when the substrate comprises the polyethylene terephthalate film, the indicator composition further comprises a binder.

2. The peracetic acid decontamination chemical indicator of claim 1 , wherein the indicator composition comprises the binder.

3. The peracetic acid decontamination indicator of claim 2 , wherein the binder comprises a polymer latex.

4. The peracetic acid decontamination chemical indicator of claim 1 , wherein the indicator composition further comprises a base.

5. The peracetic acid decontamination chemical indicator of claim 4 , wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of an inorganic base, an organic base, an amine-derivatized silane, and combinations thereof.

6. The peracetic acid decontamination chemical indicator of claim 1 , wherein the colorant does not include a naphthalene moiety or an anthraquinone moiety.

7. The peracetic acid decontamination chemical indicator of claim 1 , wherein the colorant is selected from the group consisting of 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl beta-D-galactopyranoside, 4,4′-diamino-2,2′-stilbenedisulfonic acid, 4-aminoantipyrine, 2-[4-(dimethylamino)styryl]-1-methylpyridinium iodide, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, azidoaniline, trans-4-[4-(dimethylamino)styryl]-1-methylpyridinium iodide, tetramethylbenzidine hydrochloride, and combinations thereof.

8. A method of monitoring a peracetic acid decontamination process, the method comprising:

exposing an article to be disinfected and the peracetic acid decontamination indicator of claim 1 to a sterilant comprising peracetic acid during a decontamination process, wherein a predetermined decontamination exposure criterion exists for contacting the article with the sterilant;

measuring a color change of the exposed peracetic acid decontamination indicator, wherein the color change is predictive of the predetermined disinfectant exposure criterion; and

determining whether the predetermined disinfectant exposure criterion has been achieved.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the color change is dependent upon a decontamination process condition selected from the group consisting of concentration of peracetic acid in the sterilant liquid, exposure temperature, exposure time, the rate of sterilant liquid flow across the decontamination indicator, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the concentration of peracetic acid in the sterilant liquid is at least 550 ppm during the decontamination process.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the temperature of the sterilant liquid is 20° C.-50° C. during the decontamination process.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the exposure time of the decontamination indicator to the sterilant liquid is at least 1 minute.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the rate of sterilant liquid flow across the decontamination indicator is at least 400 mL per minute.

14. The method of any claim 8 , wherein detecting the color change of the decontamination indicator comprises detecting a change in percent optical reflectance of the decontamination indicator at 375 nm-800 nm.

15. A decontamination monitoring device comprising the peracetic acid decontamination indicator of claim 1 .

16. The peracetic acid decontamination chemical indicator of claim 2 , wherein the binder is a water-soluble polymeric binder.