(6) Be so positioned in cabinets as to make items with earlier expiration
dates available for issue first. The oldest articles are used first. This is called rotation of
stock.
(7) Be removed from storage, disassembled, and sent to the receiving,
decontamination, and general cleanup area for reprocessing if not issued prior to the
expiration date.
(8) Be sent to the hospital laboratory service for culture tests on a periodic
basis, as determined by local policy.
c. Plastic Sealer. Figure 3-19 illustrates a plastic sealer that will hermetically
seal packs that use plastic packaging. The dust cover is used to protect the supplies
from dust, dirt, vermin, and moisture during the storage period and is removed just prior
to taking the items into the treatment area.
Figure 3-19. Plastic sealer.
d. Pre-Sterilized Items. Presterilized, disposable medical material, if sent
through CMS, must be:
(1) Removed from outer cases prior to entering CMS. Packing boxes must
never be brought into the CMS area.
(2) Inspected for expiration or processing date, lot control number, method
of sterilization, and damaged packaging.
(3)
Stored in designated cabinets.
MD0937
3-35