autoclave tape

[nancy42]

nancy5114@yahoo.comI have been asked to find in writting where it states that it is sterile under the autoclave tape... please help.. 3m could not..
rolleyes:

[Francisco]

FOr steam and gas sterilization it is sterile under the tape. However, it is not sterile in the Sterrad machine for Sterrad is a contact sterilizer.

[sonny1388]

Not exactly sure where this is coming as a concern, but here's the way I understand it. Steam cannot penetrate fully through the chemical indicator tape that we use, so the wrap directly under the tape has questionable sterility, that is, if you were to peel the tape off (without removing any fibers) the wrap underneath may or may not be sterile. However, because the steam penetrates the wrap everywhere else, it can contact all other parts of the wrap and can be considered sterile. The only problems I could forsee would be if you COMPLETELY covered a wrap with tape, like a prank birthday present.

[Uprooted Scrub]

Just an observation...

I don't understand why this would even be an issue because the autoclave tape is on the outside of the pack - as soon as the pack is touched by someone the outside of it becomes contaminated.

I agree with Sonny - the tape is @ 1" wide and unless the pack is completely covered with the tape, the sterility of the area beneath the tape should really a non issue.

Hope this helps!

Blaine

[Uprooted Scrub]

I was discussing this question with one of my cohorts in crime here, and she came up with a mini-experiment - we took a 3M Class 5 integrator and placed it under a piece of 3M steam tape on a wrapped sponge basin. Its in the sterilizer being processed now. I'm interested to see how it comes out. If the integrator makes it into the accept range, we'll know that there was adequate steam penetration, time, and pressure under the tape for sterility to occur. I'll report results back later this afternoon or tomorrow.

[Uprooted Scrub]

The integrator we placed under the autoclave tape was fully in the "Accept" zone, as was the integrator in the sponge bowl.

I know this hasn't been particularly helpful in answering your question, but it has been an interesting investigation for us <smile>.

Hope this helps a little, Nancy.

Blaine

[sonny1388]

Blaine,
Wonderful experiment, and compliments on using an integrator rather than an indicator! It sometimes seems so second-nature to know the difference, but I get questioned quite often on why we put integrators in our implant trays.

Nancy, I will try to find something in writing for you, but I would imagine that if 3m couldn't help, it's not going to be an easy thing to find.

[kevizhere]

once in awhile , we will see a set where the tech taped an intragrator to a set like an osteotome rack, so the intragrator doesnt fall to the bottom . in most cases the set is still used. so I would be interested to know if this is acceptable practice , we do try and let everyone know not to do this , but we still find it happening. :mad: any thoughts?

[sonny1388]

Interesting question, kev. The only place I have seen this practice is on the lids of our big ortho sets (i.e. Howmedica TKR boxes). As the lids are taken off and removed during the case, it hasn't come up as an issue. If 3m isn't confirming that the area under the tape is sterile, I would treat it as non-sterile and not use the set. There is the likelihood that the metal under the tape created enough heat to produce sterilization, but without confirmation from the manufacturer, I would hesitate to trust in that.

[kevizhere]

thanks for the feed back sonny , one other thing that comes to mind is techs are taping thier intragrators to the count list . I wonder if this is acceptable . I think I need to examine this further.

[sonny1388]

We do tape our indicators to our count sheets. Since the sheet gets taken out and doesn't come in contact with the instruments, I don't see it as a concern, at least not any more of a concern than whether or not paper can be sterilized in the first place.

[kevizhere]

having the same problem nancy , I am going to talk to out infection control team to see if they have anything on this . But I really do think that the steam can penitrate through the tape , I would say it is sterile underneath. sterrad i'm not so sure.

[cecilia.geros]

You can also call Kimberly Clark. They make the wraps we use, and they have all the vadialation parameters, for the wrap and the tape.

[sonny1388]

We also tape ours to the count sheet. We take the sheet out as soon as the set is open (still haven't figured out if it is possible to sterilize paper) and put it aside so that it doesn't come in contact with any of the instruments.

[nancy42]

thanks for all the answers this has helped... we are also having problems with instrument tape and it cooking to death and then crumbling off...any thoughts

[sonny1388]

I don't remember if it is an AAMI standard or maybe just a recommendation, but I am pretty sure that it is required that any tape has to be replaced every 3 months. Even if it's not, it's at the very least a good guideline! I will dig out my book and see if I can find it.