After a tool
is used during a piercing procedure it is returned to the Sterilization room for
sterilization. It is placed in a covered antibacterial bath until it is processed.
The tool is scrubbed
by hand with a metal or nylon brush and metal polish.
The tool is then
placed in a covered ultrasonic cleaner for 15 minutes of vibration cleaning. The
ultrasonic is only run with the lid on to avoid sending pathogens airborne.
The tool is then
run through a lubricating bath to insure troublefree operation.
Next,
the tool is air dried.
Each tool is
then placed in to a serilization pouch, sealed and labeled if applicable.
After bagging,
tools are arranged properly on an autoclave tray and placed in the autoclave along
with a test strip to ensure the clave is operating properly.
The autoclave runs a 30-minute
cycle @ 131centigrade and 25 pounds of pressure.
After claving, the sealed packages are air dried again and then stored for future
use.
Jewellery and needles
for piercing go through the same process. Needles only go through the process
once, are used once, then destroyed, as they cannot be re-sharpened. Jewellery
may be sterilized as often as needed.
Sterilize vs Disinfect & Sanitize
Disinfect and Sanitize are fancy words for clean. Clean is a relative term. If
you have ever lived with a member of the opposite sex (or maybe just anyone) you
know how relative that term can be.
Sterile
is an absolute; something is either sterile or it is not. There is no in-between.
