3-6.
OPENING AND POURING STERILE LIQUIDS
Sterile liquids are necessary for many procedures requiring sterile technique.
Use the following procedures to open bottles containing a sterile liquid and to pour the
liquids into a sterile container.
a. Lift or unscrew the cap. Do not touch bottle rim and inside cap, as these
items are considered sterile. As you remove the cap, listen for a vacuum release
sound. If there is no vacuum release sound, assume that the liquid is not sterile and get
another bottle of the liquid to use instead.
b. Hold the cap in your hand or rest the cap upside down on table (not on sterile
field since the outside of the cap is contaminated) so that the inside of the cap does not
become contaminated. If the cap becomes contaminated, it cannot be used to reseal
the bottle of sterile liquid and the left over portion of the sterile liquid must be discarded.
c. Glove your nondominant hand.
(1) Make sure glove package has not been contaminated (torn, and so
forth) and that gloves are the proper size.
(2)
Perform a patient care handwash, if you have not already done so.
(3)
Place the package on a clean, dry surface.
(4)
Peel back the outer wrapper.
(5)
Remove the inner package and place it so that the end marked "cuff" is
toward you.
(6)
Grasp lower corner and open the package to a flat position.
(7) Grasp lower corners of the package and pull to the side in order to
expose the cuffs.
(8) Grasp the cuff of the glove on the same side as your nondominate hand
with your dominate hand. (figure 3-8).
Figure 3-8. Grasp cuff.
MD0540
3-7