(2) Use a moist cotton-tipped applicator to get into grooves and other areas
that are difficult to clean.
(3)
Moisten a cloth with clean water and thoroughly remove the detergent.
(4)
Dry thoroughly as described in the next paragraph.
3-7.
RINSING AND DRYING
a. After cleaning reusable items and instruments, you must rinse and dry them
before sending them to the preparation area. In this step you will:
(1) Rinse the items under running tap water to remove a large portion of the
cleaning solution.
(2)
Rinse a second and a third time using distilled water.
(3)
Change rinse water frequently to prevent residual buildup.
b. Items must be dried before taking them to the preparation room and before
putting them in unsterile storage. You may dry these items as follows:
(1) Dry heat-resistant items by placing them in the autoclave. The steam
must be off in the chamber and the door should be open.
(2)
Manually, dry items using a soft absorbent towel.
(3) Items that are heat-sensitive should be air-dried. This means to dry by
exposure to the air in the room.
3-8.
SORTING, INSPECTING, AND TESTING
Following decontamination and cleaning, all items are brought to the preparation
area where they are carefully re-sorted, inspected for cleanliness, and tested for defects
or malfunctioning. These directions should be followed:
a. Put like items together.
b. Disassemble items that consist of multiple parts in order to check for
cleanliness and defects.
c. Check the normal action of the item. For example, a plunger will glide into the
barrel of a syringe when both are properly matched and thoroughly clean. The
presence of soil, which sometimes cannot be seen, will not allow a plunger to glide.
MD0937
3-14