How to Load a Medical Automatic Washer

In 1969 Perkins wrote the following on loading: “... when assembling instruments in a tray for processing, care should be exercised to guard against overloading. Jointed instruments with box locks should be opened wide to expose the maximum surface area. Sharp instruments should be carefully spaced in the tray in order to prevent contact with the easily damaged surfaces. The instruments are stacked less than three inches high, which is considered maximum for optimum cleaning, rinsing, and drying. Use care to ensure that stainless steel instruments are not mixed with aluminum, or with brass or copper. Also be certain that detergents used in the cleaning process are not harmful to the instruments.”²⁴

In the eighth edition (2004) of Proper Maintenance of Instruments, published by the Instrumentation Preparation Working Group in Germany, it is suggested that when using machine-based processes, the following should be observed:

To ensure effective cleaning, all trays, inserts, holders, etc., must be loaded correctly.

For the same reason, all articulated instruments must be processed in the open position

Avoid overloading trays to ensure that all instrument surfaces can be readily accessed by the cleaning/disinfecting solutions.

When placing large instruments on trays, make sure that they do not obscure other instruments thus preventing proper cleaning.

Instruments with cavities or hollow spaces (such as shafts, tubing, hoses, and respiration systems) need careful cleaning and rinsing on the inside as well. For this purpose, special (instrument-specific) inserts with appropriate rinsing facilities should be used.

The instruments must be arranged in such a way to prevent mechanical damage through contact.