Sterilizing Paper Imprinted by a Copier Machine

[klammon]

Can anyone steer me to guidelines for sterilizing paper instrument set inventory lists that are copied on a xerox-like copier? I have a report of ink transferring to the instruments after steam sterilization. What are other doing? Thanks in advance for any help. (Kathy)

[sonny1388]

There are two issues here, Kathy, and only one that we have dealt with. The first is that the ink from the copier has not been determined to be non-toxic. We make sure all of our sharpies are non-toxic, but these inks have not been tested/verified. Our hospital has not dealt with this issue. The ink transfer onto the instruments was a pretty easy fix, we cover all of our sets with a towel and put the paper on top. This creates a barrier and prevents ink transfer, as well as giving the scrubs an extra cover for the instruments to prevent contamination while opening.

[SHIRLEEN VANOCKER]

we place our count sheets on the outside of our rigid containers, folded and placed into the lock down latch (Steris sterion containers) on the wrapped items we place the count sheet between the first and second wrap. What we will be once we switch to "a one step wrap" I'm not sure of at this time... probably something similar to sonny1388