Latex Allergy Policy

[Susan MacKinnon]

Hi
I am looking for information with respect to latex allergy protocol for the processing department. My concern is that the indicator steam tape from 3M contains latex. Presently we go through a lenghty procedure of double wraping the instuments trays. That is the set is wrapped in barrier and muslin and then a second wrapper of muslin is applied. The latex tape is then applied to the second wrapper of muslin and labelled. When the instruments arrive in the operating room the tape and outer wrapper of muslin is removed outside the of the operating room and then the set which is now wrapped in muslin and barrier (with no tape) is handed to the nurse inside the theatre. This procedure elimates the presence of the sterilizer indicator tape in the operating room. I am feeling that this is quite time consuming for the staff and it does not work when there is an emergency and the patient has a latex allergy as all required instrumenation must be specially wrapped.

How do your facilities handle a latex allergy with respect to the indicator steam tape.

Thanks, Susan

[Diane]

We do nothing special for latex allergy in the OR. If the tape does not touch the patient where is the worry?

[Uprooted Scrub]

Susan:

We also do nothing special with the autoclave tape for our latex allergy patients. We just ensure all supplies on the case cart are latex free or latex safe.

I have to wonder...wouldn't the sterilization process deactivate the proteins in the latex?

Blaine

[Harvey Johnson]

No special wrap or "latex on the indicator tape" issues in the O. R. here either.....

[sonny1388]

I guess I am not even sure whether our tape has latex in it or not. I will look into it, because it would seem that the easiest solution would be to use indicator tape that doesn't contain latex. Post back soon!