Biological/Load Records

[WDM]

How long do we need to store biological and load records?

I don't mean to beat A dead horse......this is totally frustrating. I can't get an answer from local agencies nor can I get clear direction from my infection control people. Therefore, I plan on making the decision based on common practice from the SPD community. I'am only interested in steam records.

I have been told 3 years, 7 years and even 21 years for pediatric/child. I would like to know what everyone else is doing or tell me if there is a standard that I haven't found yet.

Thank you.

[SHIRLEEN VANOCKER]

WDM ;I was told by our legal service at my previous facility that sterilization and decontamination records needed to be available for 7 years. THis is the amount of time we used and based our policy on. hope this helps

[WDM]

Shirleen: How did your legal service address the pediatric records or was 7 years for all records regardless of age?

[Tracy Humphreys]

At my facility in case of pediatrics it is 30 years and 7 for other. Because we never know if our sets are used on peds or adults we keep everything for 30 years.

Tracy Humphreys BS, CRCST, CSPDT

[Monarch]

I recently had the same question. I was able to get my IC personnel and legal department to come up with a decision. They decided 3 years, with 30 years for ETO records. From Scottsdale Arizona. If your IC won't give a guideline your risk management or legal counsel might be able to set a time frame for you.

Lorrie Johnson

[sonny1388]

Pretty sure that local regulations is 7 years for anything here in Wyoming

[SHIRLEEN VANOCKER]

wdm: I am not sure if the legal dept. adopted different times for sterilization opposed to pediatric. All I know is , in our sPD dept, we were told 7 years for sterilization records and 30 years plus length of employment for ETO records.

[sonny1388]

If I were asked the same question without and guidance, I would keep all records for 20 years, excluding EtO records which are kept for 30. This would encompass all statutes of limitations that I know of (I think the reason peds are kept longer is so that they have a chance to seek legal action after they become an adult at 18) plus two years.

[autoclave1]

The 30 year for EO comes from OSHA and the CFR. All others are base uopn your individual P&P.