As opposed to gamma processing (which utilizes radioactive Cobalt-60) and ethylene oxide processing (which uses a potentially carcinogenic gas), electron beam processing utilizes high energy electrons as its radiation source. The electrons, which are produced by normal electrical current, are accelerated to near the speed of light by means of a linear accelerator. The resulting energies, ranging normally from 3 to 10 million electron volts (MeV) and coupled with 1 to 50 kW of power, have sufficient energy to penetrate most medical devices in their final shipping containers.
As electrons are scanned through the product, they reduce the product's microbial population in 2 ways: by directly breaking the microbial DNA chains as electrons are separated from atoms in the DNA, and by creating secondary particles, including free radicals, which further react with the microbial cell. The microorganisms within the packaged product are unable to reproduce due to their damaged DNA, and the product is thus rendered sterile.