Gemmy Medical Guide: 4-Step Standard Care and Sterilization Process for Surgical Instruments

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Release Time: 2026-05-22

Proper care of surgical instruments does not require much of your time nor is it difficult. Gemmy Medical simplifies professional medical instrument maintenance into only 4 standard steps for reliable clinical hygiene and long tool service life:

1. CLEANING / DISINFECTION

Within 10 minutes after use, remove the organic substances that have stuck to the stainless tools with running warm (not hot – below 45°C) water.

In case of stubborn stains or spots with a rough surface (embossed, non-slip, etc.) it is advisable to rub with a special plastic brush. Pay close attention to corners and hidden gaps where dirt can be trapped.

Soak the tools in a container with a solution of detergent/disinfectant or neutral detergent according to the manufacturer's instructions. Do not reuse the solution beyond its labeled shelf life, which typically lasts 5 to 7 days depending on accumulated microbial load. For rotating medical tools and endoscopes, Gemmy Medical recommends specialized detergents and disinfectants for thorough and precise cleaning.

Let the tools dry completely in a dedicated perforated storage container before further processing.

2. LUBRICATION

Apply medical-grade sterilizable lubricating oil to all metal-to-metal contact parts of the instruments, including hinges, joints, scissor blades and movable components. Ensure the lubricant is fully compatible with high-temperature sterilization procedures to maintain tool flexibility and prevent rust or friction damage.

3. INSPECTION

Examine each instrument individually for discoloration, structural alterations, dents or surface damage.

Check all jointed instruments to ensure smooth and flexible movement. Verify precise alignment of tweezers and scissors, and confirm automatic hooks lock and unlock securely without jamming.

Inspect all cutting instruments to retain sharpness. Test cutting performance using one to two layers of medical gauze or professional testing materials designed for surgical blade evaluation.

4. STERILIZATION

Complete final sterilization based on your equipment type, following Gemmy Medical standard clinical protocols:

LIQUID STERILIZER (WET OVEN)

Wrap instruments in sterilization paper or place them inside standard sterilization cases, ensuring packages or cases measure at least 10cm in width.

Arrange all instruments in an open, unlocked state to allow full steam penetration into every component. Avoid overfilling the sterilizer chamber to prevent air voids that cause incomplete sterilization.

Position sharp instruments carefully to avoid scratching or damaging other tools. Always attach a sterilization index indicator for batch verification.

Use deionized or distilled water to protect equipment and instruments while ensuring optimal sterilizer performance.

Minimum Recommended Wet Oven Sterilization Parameters

121°C for 15 minutes 126°C for 10 minutes 134°C for 3 minutes

DRY STERILIZER (DRY OVEN)

Place instruments on sterilization trays or sealed metal storage boxes. Use hermetically sealed boxes to maintain post-sterilization sterility during storage.

Keep all instruments open and unlocked to prevent thermal distortion caused by high-temperature expansion. Arrange sharp tools safely to avoid cross damage.

Attach sterilization index indicators to confirm successful sterilization results for every batch.

Minimum Recommended Dry Oven Sterilization Parameters

160°C for 120 minutes 170°C for 60 minutes 180°C for 30 minutes

Sources

"Sterilization and disinfection: terminology, devices and chemical methods of control of disinfection and sterilization" / Assoc. Prof. Georgia Vryonis, Microbiology Laboratory, Greek University of Applied Sciences

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