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2. Presoak if cleaning has to wait
Also called: holding solution
Keep debris from drying when instruments cannot be cleaned right away.
Dried blood is much harder to remove. If instruments cannot go into the cleaner right away, CDC says to place them in a puncture-resistant container with a detergent, disinfectant-detergent or enzymatic cleaner. Do not use glutaraldehyde or another sterilant as a holding solution.
What you do
- Use a container with a lift-out basket so you never reach into the liquid.
Safety and care
- Change the solution as the label directs.
Related
Sources: CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17)