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inator completes its cycle, inspect instruments for damage as they're
being reassembled and arranged into their trays for sterilization. We
use magnifying lenses mounted at the work tables to read the serial
number etched into each instrument in order to return it to its proper
tray, but these magnifiers also give us a high-powered view of the
instrument's surface and any stain, crack, pitting or other damage it
may have sustained.
It's an important step in the reprocessing process. We don't want an
instrument in which damage has started, which can carry the risk of
bacteria into surgery or which isn't otherwise usable for surgery, to
end up in the tray. So it's in our hands to remove it from circulation
for repair or disposal.
We also contract with a repair company, whose truck visits once a
week. The service reps
inspect all of our
instrument trays
according to a timed
maintenance schedule,
checking for damage,
testing functionality,
and sharpening and
lubricating as needed.
Since our ortho trays
are used the most,
they get the most fre-
quent inspections.
If you take care of
your instruments
between uses, you'll
experience fewer
S T E R I L E P R O C E S S I N G
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