disinfectant - 70% alcohol as disinfectant (Oct/26/2004 )

can anyone help me to resolve why 70% alcohol is preferred as disinfectant and sterilizing agent over absolute alcohol?
thanks in advance

Tradition and cost would be my guesses.

In fact, it is not only a question of cost as many would think!!
70% ethanol actually sterilize by precipitating the intracellular bacterial proteins, wich kills them. 100% ethanol is too strong and doesn't "have the time to enter" into the bacteria, so it only precipitate extracellular protein, and it doesn't kill it.

That's what I heard anyway!?!

Simon