Dentists taking great precautions to insure patient safety. (reducing potential for transmission of bloodborne diseases by checking sterilization equipment) (Washington State)

Washington State

Snohomish County dentists are taking greater precautions to insure patient safety and reduce any potential for transference of Hepatitis, HIV and other bloodborne diseases between patients and from dentist to patient.

Since October 1991, some of them have enrolled in the new sterilization monitoring program pioneered in 1991 by two former professors in the University of Washington (UW) Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. They join over 60 Puget Sound area dentists who have recently enrolled in the Sterilchek program.

The service uses biological indicators to verify whether or not a dental office sterilizer is working properly. …