Recommended practices for selection and use of packaging systems for sterilization.

The following recommended practices were developed by the AORN Recommended Practices Committee and have been approved by the AORN Board of Directors. They were presented as proposed recommended practices for comments by members and others. They are effective January 1, 2007. These recommended practices are intended as achievable recommendations representing what is believed to be an optimal level of practice. Policies and procedures will reflect variations in practice settings and/or clinical situations that determine the degree to which the recommended practices can be implemented. AORN recognizes the numerous settings in which perioperative nurses practice. These recommended practices are intended as guidelines adaptable to various practice settings. These practice settings include traditional operating rooms, ambulatory surgery centers, physicians' offices, cardiac catheterization suites, endoscopy suites, radiology departments, and all other areas where operative and other invasive procedures may be performed. PURPOSE These recommended practices provide guidelines for the evaluation, selection, and use of packaging systems for items to be sterilized. Packaging systems should ensure the integrity of the sterilized contents until opened for use and should permit aseptic delivery of the contents to the sterile field. These packaging systems include woven