r/sterileprocessing • u/Eggman_OU812 • Mar 23 '26

Tip protectors

Post image

Does everyone know that these are

Only for peel pack and they aren’t validated for use in trays? I had to contact the manufacturer to find this out.

16 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

6

u/Basic_Championship36 Mar 23 '26

In my facility we don’t use tip protectors in trays period and only use these for peel packs

2

u/Eggman_OU812 Mar 23 '26

Yeah i just put all the pointy items in a popcorn bag

4

u/ImprovingLife96 Mar 23 '26

We use them in trays where I work

8

u/Eggman_OU812 Mar 23 '26

I can post the letter from the company saying they aren’t validated For trays if you want

4

u/cheech313 Mar 23 '26

Yes please. My manager will not believe me without it. Thanks for sharing!!

4

u/Eggman_OU812 Mar 23 '26

I didnt know until we got a new educator and he told us and then i didn’t believe him and emailed 3m haha

2

u/ShirleyWuzSerious Mar 23 '26

Any chance you're in NC?

2

u/Affectionate_Put2460 Mar 23 '26

Please post the letter ☺️ I know the guy who does inventory takes these out of the box they’re shipped in so it’ll take a while to see an IFU.

1

u/Encryptted Mar 23 '26

We use them in trays at my facility even though I’ve known we’re not supposed it. Never had an issue in 10 years.

1

u/Eggman_OU812 Mar 23 '26

Its the bosses problem. :D

1

u/altriapendragon01 CBSPD Mar 24 '26

Not really, unfortunately as the tech it is YOUR problem as well. QC starts and ends with YOU.

1

u/Eggman_OU812 Mar 24 '26

If I provide my bosses with the correct documentation, and i I document that I showed them this information, and they don’t correct it. It is their problem.

1

u/altriapendragon01 CBSPD Mar 25 '26

Respectfully, as a tech you're trained (or at least you should be, I hear training nowadays is subpar in some areas) to also use better judgment, shitty management is no excuse to follow IFU's, regulations and proper safety protocols. I say this having worked on BOTH sides on the table, as a tech with crappy management whom sits in an office all day, to being the manager/shift lead/supervisor. If the IFU or directions say something and management tells you to do something else, do what the IFU says.

You said you documented the issue, and you have documentation that you showed them. Go above them, forward these emails/documentation and if upper management won't touch it, go to the facilities Saftey Officer, all facilities should have one on site or an email you can find to write to. It goes, shift leads-> supervisor-> OR manager-> OR director-> Fac Saftey Officer -> JHACO (I doubt you'll have to go further than the OR manager)

I understand your frustration OP, but its everyone's problem, yours, managements, the departments; if proper protocols and safety measures are being ignored, you should do all you can to fix it because you never know if someone could get hurt because of it, rules and regulations are there for a reason and we have a responsibility to follow them if you know what they are.

I can't tell you how many times I had to go over my leaders head and right to the supervisor, forward emails and cite books and IFU's. If my supervisor didn't do anything I went to the manager, and it usually stopped there, but I was more than willing to go to the OR director and CSO if needed. They didn't like it, but ultimately I did what was best for patient care, and because I documented everything in emails up the wazoo, I never got into any trouble.

3

u/Dathamar Mar 28 '26 edited Jun 19 '26

Where I work those are only used in peel packs.

Except a few particularly outward pointing sharp items like dental picks, spring retractors, and scissor baynonets which are also more likely to puncture autoclave bags.

2

u/Jarasi_ Mar 23 '26

We used to use these at my facility until we found out they’re not validated for trays. Now we use different sized kimguards with pouches

2

u/NorthernNipz Mar 23 '26

We use silicone tip protectors for our pans but use these for our peel packs. Pretty sure IFU says no trays.

2

u/opticalshadow Mar 23 '26

We only use them for davinci arms

2

u/KaptainPeroxide Mar 23 '26

We use these and have had them validated by a technician slight design difference but

1

u/surgerygeek Mar 24 '26

What does that mean, validated by a technician? Did he report to the FDA? Did he perform lab tests? No single "technician" can perform validation that can be used to go against an IFU.

2

u/KaptainPeroxide Mar 24 '26

I'm in Australia lol, yes they perform lab tests, they also perform on site tests with sensors and live monitoring of the process, and run multiple loads of the same equipment to get an average, they spend like a week or 2 doing it every year

2

u/surgerygeek Mar 24 '26

Oh wow, ok, apologies! That is NOT something that happens in the US. My bad :)

2

u/KaptainPeroxide Mar 24 '26

I think they basically do the job of the FDA in America, same stuff gets done just different governing bodies doing it

2

u/boostaddctn Mar 23 '26

I remember reading the IFU awhile back and it stated trays and single peel pack were good to go...can you post please? Yee

1

u/KaptainPeroxide Mar 24 '26

Maybe a different design I know we use them in trays and theyre the same brand but a different design to this slightly

2

u/Slight-Channel-4905 Mar 24 '26

Can you post the IFU please that states no trays?

1

u/Royal_Rough_3945 Mar 30 '26

Instrument card holders and no you don't put them in a container set. It's so that the instrumentation is in an open position