What is an effective protocol for biological monitoring and instrument sterility quality assurance?
A The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Dental Association (ADA), and OSAP all recommend weekly spore testing for most dental offices (1,2,3). Your state may have specific requirements for spore testing. Watching gauges and checking seals on your sterilizer (physical monitoring) and the use of chemical indicators with each instrument package (chemical monitoring) to identify items that have been exposed to heat also are important components for sterility assurance.
