International Heart Valve Bank Survey: A Review of Processing Practices and Activity Outcomes

Table 6

Incubation temperatures and durations used for decontamination of allografts.

Incubation temperature (in °C)	Incubation time (in hours)	Number of HVBs	Number of HVBs	% of HVBs
1–10 (cold temperature, including at 4°C)	6–24	1	16	67%
	12–18	2
	18–26	12*
	48	1
21 (ambient temperature)	18–26	2	2	8.3%
33–38 (physiological temperature)	6–12	4*	7	29%
	18–26	3

∗Refers to a HVB which decontaminates allografts at either 37°C for 6–8 hours or 4°C for 18–24 hours.