Severalprocedures for inactivating viruses are used presently in the context of bonetissue transplants. Common methods used are gamma irradiation (25kGy), treatment with moist heat (82.5°C/15min., lobator-sd2-system) as well as chemical sterilisation usingperacetic acid-ethanol treatment (PES, 2% peracetic acid, 96% ethanol, Aqua[2:1:1], 200 mbar, agitation, 4 hours). Based on national andinternational guidelines, we tested the antivirucidal effectiveness of thesemethods in human bone transplants. Three enveloped viruses: humanimmunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2), pseudorabies virus (PRV), bovine virusdiarrhoea virus (BVDV), and three non–enveloped viruses were used:hepatitis A virus (HAV), poliovirus (PV-1), porcine/bovine parvovirus (PPV,BPV). Defatted spongiosa cuboids served as model in chemical treatmentexperiments, while cortical diaphyses were used in gamma irradiationexperiments, and the effects of thermal treatment were tested in preparedfemoral heads. The log10 reduction was measured by cytopathogeniceffects after virus titration (TCID50/mL). A dose of at least 33.9kGy (bone model) at −30 ± 5°C wasnecessary to achieve a sufficient reduction (4 log10 steps) of BPV,the most resistant one of all viruses investigated. Thermal treatment as wellasPES treatment led to a reduction of virus titres by more than 4log10. Only HAV showed a reduction below 4 log10 (2.87)with PES. After validation of the defatting step included for HAV-infectedcells, a HAV-reduction of over 7 log10 was found. All threesterilisation methods tested are recommended for bone transplant sterilisation,but only provided that additional safety measures (anamnestic informations,infectious serology, PCR in case of multiorgan donors) are taken.