Many people will ask whether the effective time of the sterile cotton swab opened after unpacking is 4 hours or 24 hours. Some people say 24 hours, others say 4 hours.
Let’s analyze whether it is 4 hours or 24 hours:
① According to the operational principles of aseptic technology.
1. Once the sterile bag (bag) is opened, it must be replaced and disinfected again within 24 hours.
2. It is effective within 4 hours after laying sterile plate.
② My understanding is that once the sterile bag (bag) is opened and wrapped again, it can still remain sterile and can be stored for up to 24 hours.
The 4-hour validity period of the aseptic plate (table) is because the aseptic plate (table) is exposed to the air. It is difficult to ensure the aseptic state for a long time and is easy to pollute, so it must be replaced for 4 hours.
cleaning validation swabs
③ According to the above two rules, once the sterile cotton swab is opened, the sterile environment cannot be maintained according to the original packaging. Therefore, the effective time of the sterile cotton swab after unpacking is 4 hours.
④ It is recommended to use sterile cotton swabs immediately or as soon as possible after opening to avoid contamination.