How to Care for Surgical Instruments

Hospitals, clinics and doctors offices spend large amounts of money each year on top-quality surgical instruments. The key to making this investment last is the proper care and handling of these instruments to ensure a long life. The major key in cleaning surgical instruments is to clean them as soon as possible after use. This ensures that blood and debris cannot dry on the instrument and cause oxidation, which can dull blades and cause clamps and springs not to tighten as intended.

Things You'll Need

• Disinfecting solution for stainless steel
• Plastic container
• Ultrasonic cleaner
• Cleaning solution recommended for ultrasonic cleaner
• Clean dry towels
• Magnifying glass
• Lubricant for surgical instruments
• Autoclave
• Autoclave bags
• Autoclave tape

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Instructions

• 1

  Place the used instrument in a neutral pH cleaning solution in a plastic container as soon as possible after use. Let the instrument sit in the solution for at least 30 minutes. Remove the instrument and rinse well. Blot dry with clean, dry towel.

• 2

  Fill the ultrasonic cleaner with a recommended ultrasonic cleaning solution, according to the manufacturer's directions. Place the rinsed instrument in the ultrasonic cleaner and switch the cleaner on. Let the instruments sit in the ultrasonic cleaner for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the instruments and rinse them well with clean water. Place the instruments on a clean, dry towel and use another clean, dry towel to carefully blot them dry.

• 3

  Use the magnifying glass to carefully inspect the cutting edges of the instrument (if it has one), the hinged moving parts or the grooved edges of a needle holder. Send any scissors or cutting blades to a professional to be sharpened, and discard any non-usable instruments.

• 4

  Spray any moving or hinged parts with a lubricant specifically made for surgical instruments. Keeping these moving parts functioning correctly will ensure that they do their job exactly as they are expected to do.

• 5

  Insert instrument into an autoclave bag and secure the bag with autoclave tape. Autoclave tape turns from orange to dark brown when it has reached the proper sterilization temperature and ensures that the instrument packaged inside it has been properly sterilized.

• 6

  Place the bag containing the instrument in the autoclave machine and secure the door of the machine according to the manufacturer's directions. Turn on the autoclave machine and set it to a temperature of 121 degrees Celsius (or 249 degrees Fahrenheit). Let the instrument "cook" at this temperature for 15 to 20 minutes. The autoclave machine will probably have a timer with an automatic shut-off.

• 7

  Remove the packaged instruments after the autoclave machine has cooled off and store them where they are not likely to be damaged or the seals broken. Check each instrument to make sure the autoclave tape has changed color.