Know Your Standards part 2

Did you know that surgical instruments should come back to CSSD relatively clean and not look like a bloodbath on a trolley. Did you know that both AS 5369 and ACORN (Australian College of Perioperative Nurses) endorse the following ? Section 6.2.2.2 Pre-treatment defines this: Procedures for pre-treatment of RMD's /other devices at the point of use shall be deveolped and implemented. Methods used shall- (a) remove gross soil (b) not cause damage to the device (c) not compromise the subsequent cleaning,disinfection and sterilisation processes. (d)minimise risk of drying contaminants. The maximum period of time that is permitted to elapse between use of an RMD/otherdevice and subsequent reprocessing shall be specified. Actions to be taken if this period is exceeded shall be specified. Do you have a maximum time set in place and what do you do if this time is exceeded?