§ 73677. Autoclaving, Sterilizing and Disinfecting.

(a) All facilities shall make provision within the facility, or by acceptable arrangements for outside service, for proper sterilization of dressings, utensils, instruments and solutions used in the facility.

(b) All sterilization of supplies and equipment in the facility shall be under the supervision of a person qualified by experience and training.

(1) Autoclaves and sterilizers where provided shall be maintained in operating condition at all times.

(2) Instructions for operating autoclaves and sterilizers shall be posted.

(3) Written instructions for preparing supplies for autoclavingand for the operation of autoclaves shall be available to personnel. This shall include the method of packaging, loading the autoclave, temperature and pressure to be applied and the period of exposure.

(4) Autoclaves shall be checked at least weekly to verify that recording thermometers and indicating thermometers reasonably coincide.

Records of recording thermometers shall be checked for each load to verify that the performance of the autoclave is in accordance with established standards for sterilization. Records of recording thermometers shall be preserved for one year. Recording thermometers are not required on portable sterilizers and autoclaves.

(5) Autoclaving results shall be checked at least monthly by bacteriological tests. Records of results of such tests shall be preserved at least one year.

(6) Sterilized supplies and equipment shall be dated.