What does a biological indicator demonstrate in a sterilization process?

A biological indicator demonstrates that sterilization has occurred by using a population of microorganisms that are specifically designed to withstand the sterilization process. When a biological indicator is used, it contains live spores that are resistant to the sterilization conditions. After the sterilization process, the indicator is cultured to determine if any spores survived. If no growth is observed, it indicates that the sterilization process was effective in killing the microorganisms, thus confirming that sterilization has successfully taken place.

In contrast, the other options do not directly confirm the result of the sterilization process. Temperature success may indicate appropriate levels during the process, but it does not guarantee that all organisms have been eliminated. Time success refers to the duration of exposure in the sterilization cycle, which is important but doesn't conclusively prove that sterilization was effective. Chemical efficacy involves the use of chemical indicators to show that certain conditions were met, but again, these do not directly correlate with the actual achievement of sterilization, which is the primary focus of biological indicators.