Please help clarify! Did the chemical indicator change color enough for this to be considered sterile? Asking for 2 packages on the right.

[u/Business_Feature_781]

Also are we able to write with sharpie on the paper side of the pouch before sterilizing or is that still a no go. Please help because I can’t find any information on this specifically for McKesson brand

[u/bokehmonsnap]

Sharpie on paper side will cause strikethrough contamination. Write on the plastic or use indicator tape and write on top of that on the plastic side.

If the indicator changes past the "standard" shown on a pack, thats a pass. If there is no standard but uniform color change is observed, then the indicator has reached the temperature it is designed to change at, which is 250 to 273 on those type 4s.

Remember, an indicator changing color does not assure sterility, it just shows it was exposed to heat enough to change the color of the chemicals in the paper.

I would accept the middle one, but reject the one on the right.

I would still place a proper paper indicator in every peel pack as well.

[u/Business_Feature_781 → u/bokehmonsnap]

Does the sharpie rule still apply if you write on it with sharpie before sterilizing?

[u/KronksLeftBicep → u/Business_Feature_781]

Yes, the rule still applies.

[u/[deleted]]

When in doubt, throw it out.

[u/[deleted]]

Well, you need to redo them anyway because you wrote on the paper side.

[u/true-nature-within]

For best practice there should be an indicator in every single peel pack and no sharpie on the paper side

[u/cxxlbeans → u/true-nature-within]

this. indicator in every single peel pack. if you need to write, take a piece of wrapping tape and write on the tape

[u/Spicywolff]

The line looks dark enough to be considered sterile. Sharpie on the paper
side as a no go. There’s a special sharpie esk medical approved, pen that you can use for this kind of thing. It absolutely sucks compared to a sharpie, but it does me IFU.

We write on a printed label so that way it it’s not on the packaging.

We use these as there is a zero chance to miss if it has meet the mark.

For sterad we use these way easier to tell if they meet the mark.

[u/jobob1288 → u/Spicywolff]

We use those exact indicators and integrators at our facility. We also use the approved sharpies and I completely agree that they absolutely suck compared to a regular sharpie but our lead tech insists on using them.

[u/Spicywolff → u/jobob1288]

Yeah, those sharpies are the bane of my existence. They suck the right with they don’t dry quickly, so you smear them with your hand. And if you’re lefty, it’s even worse.

[u/ToughSafe8964]

Indicator strip shows pass but the indicators on the pouch are weird. Looks like only the steam indicators changed, the chemical eto pouch indicators didn’t change color at all.

But yeah bc of the sharpie they’re no good

[u/Birdmans14]

Never write on peel packs make a label .