Which of the following aseptic techniques can be achieved using dry heat, moist heat, ultraviolet light, gas, chemicals, or ionizing radiation?

The correct answer is sterilization. Sterilization refers to the complete elimination or destruction of all forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores, which makes it the highest level of microbiological control. The methods listed—dry heat, moist heat, ultraviolet light, gas (such as ethylene oxide), chemicals (specific sterilants), and ionizing radiation—are all recognized techniques that can achieve sterilization by effectively killing or inactivating bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.

In contrast, disinfection refers to the process of reducing or eliminating pathogenic microorganisms, but not necessarily all microorganisms and particularly not bacterial spores. Sanitization is a process aimed at reducing the number of pathogens to a level considered safe; therefore, it does not guarantee complete microbial eradication. Antisepsis is the application of antiseptic solutions to living tissues to inhibit or destroy microorganisms, typically on skin or mucous membranes. While each of these processes serves an important purpose in infection control, sterilization is the only method that ensures all microorganisms are eradicated, justifying its definition and distinction from the other options.