How to Sterilize a Forceps

Sterilizing your forceps can make the difference between having a clean and successful surgery and your patient becoming infected through dirty forceps. After the sterilization, the forceps can not touch anything except for the patient, according to the Auburn University website. The forceps become instantly dirty if they touch anything. A clean pair of forceps can help you become a well-respected and less accident-prone surgeon.

Instructions

• 1

  Pour a cup of ethanol into a ceramic or glass cup.

• 2

  Hold the forceps by their handle, and then dip the end of the forceps into the ethanol.

• 3

  Light a medium-sized flame, and then hold the ethanol-dipped end over the flame.

• 4

  Hold the forceps over the flame and wait until the flame has disappeared. (See Reference 1)