Defines the selection and use of chemical sterilizing agents (except for ethylene oxide) that have been cleared for marketing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Topics defined include general safety and performance characteristics of chemical sterilants and high-level disinfectants (HLD), basic types of chemical sterilants/HLD and chemical sterilization techniques, mechanisms by which manufacturers obtain FDA clearance, and questions that users should ask manufacturers when choosing a product for use on a particular medical device.