Florida Cosmetology Licensing ExamSafety, Sanitation, and SterilizationHard
A cosmetologist is preparing to use a multi-use implement that has just been removed from an autoclave. How should this implement be handled and stored to maintain its sterile condition?
- AIt must be stored in a dry, airtight, and labeled container or UV sterilizer unit.
- BIt needs to be re-sterilized if not used within 24 hours of removal from the autoclave.
- CIt can be placed directly on the clean workstation for immediate use.
- DIt should be wiped with an alcohol wipe and then placed in a clean drawer.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. It must be stored in a dry, airtight, and labeled container or UV sterilizer unit.
To maintain sterility, implements removed from an autoclave must be stored in a clean, dry, and airtight container or a designated UV sterilizer unit. Placing it directly on a workstation or in a non-sealed drawer would compromise its sterility.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. While sterility has a shelf life, the exact duration depends on packaging and storage conditions, not a fixed 24-hour rule. The primary issue is maintaining proper storage, not immediate re-sterilization.
- C. Placing a sterile implement directly on a workstation immediately contaminates it, as workstations are typically only disinfected, not sterile.
- D. Wiping an already sterile implement with alcohol is unnecessary and can reintroduce contaminants from the wipe itself; a clean drawer alone is not sufficient to maintain sterility.
Sterile Implement Storage
To maintain sterility, implements that have undergone sterilization must be stored in conditions that protect them from contamination, such as dry, airtight, labeled containers or dedicated sterile storage units.
- Crucial for preventing re-contamination post-sterilization.
- Storage containers must be clean, dry, and provide a barrier to environmental pathogens.
- UV sterilizer units are often used for maintaining sterile implements.
Memory trick: Sterile Stays Safe in Sealed Storage.