W. Va. Code R. § 64-80-11

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 36, September 6, 2024

Section 64-80-11 - Instrument Sterilization and Set-Up

11.1. Contaminated non-disposable equipment including needles, needle bars, needle tubes, needle caps, body piercing tubes or other instruments that are contaminated shall be immersed in liquid in the cleaning area or room until cleaned and sterilized.

11.2. Before being sterilized, all instruments shall be thoroughly cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner following the manufacturer's instructions.

11.3. After cleaning, non-disposable instruments shall be packaged into procedure set-ups with color change indicators or packaged individually in peel-packs with color change indicators. All packages shall be dated and initialed by the preparer. If a sterilized package has been breached or allowed to get wet, the instruments shall be re-packaged and re-sterilized before use.

11.4. After sterilization, the instruments shall be stored in a dry, clean cabinet or other tightly covered container reserved for storage of sterile instruments.

11.5. The facility shall retain the records of sterilization procedures for a minimum of the last three (3) years.

11.6. Wearing new clean disposable examination gloves, the technician shall use the proper technique to assemble, without contamination, all instruments and supplies to be used in the procedure. All sterilized instruments shall remain in sterile packages until opened in front of the client. If a glove is pierced, torn or contaminated by contact with any non-clean surface, the technician shall properly remove and discard both gloves. The technician shall discard the gloves after the completion of each procedure on an individual client, and shall wash his or her hands prior to donning the next pair of gloves. Under no circumstances shall a single pair of gloves be used on more than one (1) person. The use of disposable examination gloves does not preclude or substitute for hand washing procedures as a part of a good personal hygiene program.

W. Va. Code R. § 64-80-11