Which sterilization method utilizes heat, chemicals, or radiation to eliminate all forms of life?

Sterilization is the process specifically designed to eliminate all forms of life, including bacteria, viruses, spores, and fungi, from a surface or item. This can be achieved through various methods such as heat (like steam under pressure in autoclaves), chemicals (such as ethylene oxide gas), or radiation (like gamma rays). Each of these methods effectively eradicates all microbial life to ensure that the items are completely free of contaminants, making them safe for medical procedures or other applications where sterility is critical.

The other terms mentioned have distinct meanings. Disinfection refers to the process of destroying a significant number of pathogenic organisms on surfaces, but it does not necessarily eliminate all microorganisms. Sanitization reduces the microbial load to safe levels but does not guarantee complete sterility. Pasteurization is a method specifically designed to reduce pathogens in food and beverages through heat treatment, but like disinfection and sanitization, it does not ensure total elimination of all life forms. Therefore, the focus on achieving complete sterility underscores why sterilization is the correct answer in this context.