BDA welcomes significant changes to HTM01-05
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- Published: Wednesday, 01 May 2013 13:05
- Written by News Editor
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The full HTM 01-05 2013 Edition and is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/decontamination-in-primary-care-dental-practices
The most significant change announced is the extension to the shelf life of wrapped instruments from 21 or 60 days to a maximum of one year. The Department of Health has acknowledged that the previous timescales were not helpful in the management of frequently used instruments. In a related change, unwrapped instruments in the clinical area can now be stored for one day, or for one week if stored in a non-clinical area. A ‘non-clinical area’ is designated as either a clinical area not in current use or the clean area of a separate decontamination room.
The policy on manually cleaning and rinsing instruments has also been amended. The use of one sink and a removable bowl is now permitted. Manual washing and rinsing can now be achieved by using either two dedicated sinks with a separate or shared water supply, or one sink with a removable bowl that can be contained within the sink and can accommodate the instruments for rinsing.
The required frequency at which infection control audits should be conducted has also been changed. They are now required to be conducted every six months, rather than the previously stipulated every three months.
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