This survey was answered by 205 ASORN members from 39 different states and Canada who work in a variety of settings predominantly community hospitals or surgery centers, but also clinics, private practices, and university and VA Medical centers.
1. Does your facility use the Sterad process for sterilization?
Yes (20%)
No (80%)
2. If yes, which eye instruments are processed in this way?
- Phaco handpieces (4)
- 20 and 28 diopter lenses (7)
- Vitrectomy lenses (1)
- Tubing (2)
- Heat sensitive products (6)
- Stainless steel instruments (8)
- Other (20)
- Biom lenses
- Corneal protectors
- Light sources
- Only as a backup when gas is “down”
- Scopes, but no eye instruments
- None
- Don’t know
3. If no, what system do you use?
- Steam (76%)
- Ethylene oxide (gas) (10%)
- Other (14%
)
- Cidex™
- Both steam and gas
- Dry heat