How Should The Storage And Shelf Life Of Sterile Materials Be Determined?

Sterile medical devices must be stored in a sterile storage area with ISO 8 class clean room criteria reserved for this purpose and must never be kept together with non-sterile medical devices. The same rules apply to sterile storage areas located outside the MSU. 
✓ There should be no drain and tap in the sterile storage area. 
✓ Large air movements (opening and closing of doors) must be avoided. 
✓ Sterile products must be stored in a safe, dry and cool environment away from direct sunlight.
✓  Medical devices stored in unsuitable environments may be damaged
Entry to the sterile storage area must be prohibited except for authorised personnel. 
✓ Hand hygiene must be ensured before entering the sterile storage area
✓ What goes into storage first must be used first.
✓ When sterile disposable medical devices are taken to the sterile storage area, the cardboard boxes used for transport should be left outside. 
✓ Sterilised material should not be placed on shelves before it cools down.
✓  Packaged sterile material must not be touched by hand. Sterile materials should be placed on the shelves in baskets and transport should be done with baskets.
✓ During transport, baskets should be touched, not the material itself. Because the packaging material may deteriorate during hand contact and the air passage caused by pressure may cause the passage of microorganisms. 
✓ Sterile packages should not be stacked on top of each other. Stacking causes damage to the package and disruption of the microbial barrier 
✓ If the package of the sterilised material gets wet, torn, punctured or its sterilisation life expires, it should be considered "dirty" and should not be used. 
✓ Measures should be taken to prevent the presence of rodents or insects in the sterile storage area. If pesticides are sprayed for this purpose, sterile materials must not be exposed to pesticides. 
✓ For stock management, medical devices that are not used for 6 months and longer are identified, stored without sterilisation, and sterilised and used when needed.
✓  Materials kept in stock for emergencies are sterilised again when the expiry date expires.