Instrument Preparation and Packaging Flashcards
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Read the first 6 Instrument Preparation and Packaging flashcards as text
A sterile processing technician is packaging a tray of heavy orthopedic instruments. According to ANSI/AAMI ST77, what is the maximum recommended weight for a wrapped instrument tray, including the container and all contents?
Answer: 25 lbs
ANSI/AAMI ST77:2013 recommends that the total weight of a containment device (such as a wrapped tray or rigid container), its instruments, and any accessories should not exceed 25 pounds to ensure proper sterilization, drying, and safe handling.
When preparing a peel pouch for sterilization, which of the following practices is most critical for ensuring sterilant penetration and maintaining sterility?
Answer: Ensuring the pouch is no more than 75% full.
Filling a pouch to a maximum of 75% of its volume is a best practice. This allows for adequate air removal, sterilant penetration, and proper drying. Overloading a pouch can compromise these processes and prevent effective sterilization.
A technician is preparing a basin set for steam sterilization. How should the basins be positioned within the set and on the sterilizer cart to ensure proper sterilization and drying?
Answer: Placed on their sides with a non-linting towel separating them.
Basins should be placed on their sides (on edge) to facilitate air removal, steam contact, and condensate drainage. A non-linting absorbent towel should be placed between them to absorb moisture and prevent metal-to-metal contact, which can interfere with drying.
Which of the following is the PRIMARY purpose of an external chemical indicator on a wrapped instrument set?
Answer: To identify packages that have been exposed to a sterilization process.
The primary role of an external chemical indicator (like indicator tape) is to provide a visual cue that the package has been through a sterilization process, distinguishing it from an unprocessed package. It does not prove that the contents are sterile.
During the inspection and assembly phase, a technician notes a hinged instrument, such as a hemostat. What is the correct way to prepare this instrument for packaging?
Answer: Placed on a stringer or rack in an open, unlocked position.
Hinged instruments must be placed in an open, unlocked position to allow the sterilant to come into contact with all surfaces, especially in the box lock and jaw areas. Using an instrument stringer or rack helps keep them in this open position throughout the sterilization process.
A new sterile processing technician is assembling an instrument set in a rigid container system. Which of the following actions is required before sterilizing the container?
Answer: Ensuring the internal chemical indicator is placed in the most challenging area.
An internal chemical indicator must be placed in every package to verify that the sterilant has penetrated to the point of placement. According to AAMI ST79, it should be placed in the area of the tray or container that is considered most difficult for the sterilant to reach, often the geometric center.