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Education only. This app is community experience, not a standard and not your facility policy. AAMI and ST79 are general guidance. Always follow the manufacturer IFU for your equipment and your facility policy.

Why does cleaning come before sterilizing?

Sterilization depends on every step before the sterilizer. Leftover soil can shield germs so the sterilant never reaches the surface. Cleaning, inspecting, assembling, and packaging are patient protection too, not just prep work.

Education only. Follow your IFU and facility policy.

Why do peel pouches stand on edge in the sterilizer?

Pouches standing on edge, like files in a rack, leave room for steam to reach them and for the pouch to expand during the cycle. Stacked flat, pouches block each other.

Education only. Follow your IFU and facility policy.

Why do hot trays cool before anyone handles the packs?

A warm pack handled too soon can pull in moisture and germs, and hands on a warm pack can add condensation. Loads cool fully first, then sterile packs are handled with clean bare hands and checked: dry, intact, indicator changed.

Education only. Follow your IFU and facility policy.

Know Your Room: Air, Temperature, and Humidity

Every SPD area has its own air pressure, temperature, and humidity rules. Air should always move from clean to dirty, never the other way.

Why this happens: negative air in decontamination pulls air IN, so dirty air does not flow into clean areas. Positive air on the clean side pushes air OUT, so dust and germs are pushed away from clean and sterile items. Temperature and humidity protect packaging, slow germ growth, and keep staff in PPE from overheating in decontamination.

Decontamination

Negative pressure, air in, exhausted outside.

Cooler room: 60 to 65°F under ST79 guidance; newer ASHRAE 170 design range is wider, 60 to 73°F.

Humidity 30 to 60% under ST79.

Prep and Pack

Positive pressure, air out.

68 to 73°F.

Humidity 30 to 60%, max 60%.

Sterilizer loading and unloading

Positive pressure, air out.

68 to 73°F.

Humidity 30 to 60%.

Sterilizer equipment access room

Negative pressure, air in.

Warmer room from equipment heat: 75 to 85°F in the ST79 table.

Humidity 30 to 60%.

Sterile storage

Positive pressure, air out.

No higher than 75°F.

Humidity no higher than 60%.

Ranges vary by the standard edition your building was built to. Education only. Check your room monitor, your facility policy, and follow your IFU.

Daily Documentation: Test It, Write It Down

If it is not documented, it did not happen. Test on schedule, record the result the same day, and always follow the manufacturer IFU for your machine.

1. Room conditions logged: temperature, humidity, and air pressure for each area.2. Washer disinfector cleaning test (timing follows the manufacturer IFU and your facility schedule): the TOSI test, a blood soil test coupon that challenges the washer, including hard to reach spots like box locks.3. Ultrasonic test: SonoCheck, which checks cavitation energy, the cleaning power of the ultrasonic. TOSI and SonoCheck are two different tests for two different jobs. Use a different test only when the manufacturer specifies one.4. Washer decon cycle: run on the schedule in the manufacturer IFU. That may be once a week, based on how often the washer is used, or by cycle count.5. Every result recorded the same day: date, machine, test, pass or fail, initials. A failed test is repeated per the IFU, and the machine is not trusted until it passes.

Education only. Your facility log is the official record. Follow the manufacturer IFU for your washer and ultrasonic and your facility policy.