Problem/Solution: How to Avoid a Wet Pack

One major issue that we hear at nearly every level of staff within a medical office or tattoo shop is really centered around education and the understanding of process and procedure.  It’s probably no surprise that we want to help attack some gaps regarding sterilization in an effort to help with staff education. Sterilization is an important part of the instrument reprocessing cycle. It’s important that the instruments are properly packed and sterilized as improper packing of instruments can cause problems. You’ll start noticing excess moisture on your packaging. This is known as a “wet pack” and it’s an issue that can occur for a number of reasons.

In this article, we’re going to go over what causes wet packs and how you can avoid them in your next cycle. And as always, if you have any questions about this or anything else, call us at 704-966-1650.

The Problem

To address the problem, we have to understand what a wet pack is and how it happens. A wet pack an instrument package that has moisture on it when it’s taken out of the autoclave. Visible dampness, puddled water or droplets are all signs of this. If more than one package in the tray is a wet pack, then the load becomes a “wet load.” 

The problem is that wet packs can succumb to “wicking,” which allows organisms to get in the packaging. And contamination of your supposedly sterile instruments is a problem that needs no further explanation. But because of the excess water, wet packs can potentially cause corrosion in your instruments too. And the causes of these wet packs can result sometimes from machine error, but also human error. 

The Causes

Like we mentioned before, the causes of wet packs can range from machine failure or human error. So, to find a solution, you need to find the cause. Here are things that can lead to a wet pack in your sterilizer:

Improper Storage – Storing a hot pack incorrectly can lead to moisture buildup. If it’s stacked under something else, a pocket forms allowing moisture to build up and cause a wet pack.

Component Failure – There are components in your autoclave that can cause wet packs. Parts like the valves, stem traps, vacuum systems and chamber drain strainers. If one or more of these components fail, a wet pack is formed. 

Steam Supply Issues – Some autoclaves are filled using “house steam” derived from the building’s boiler system. Clogging or improper flow of the steam lines can cause your load to be waterlogged.

Operator Error – If it’s not the machines, then it’s the one operating them. Improper training can lead to sterilization protocol being performed wrong. Too much material was loaded in the chamber, selecting the wrong cycle or improperly handling the load prior to insertion are all methods of operator error that can result in a wet pack. 

The Solution

Ok, so what should you do when you notice a wet pack?  As we’ve shown, there can be different causes, so we’ve got to determine the issue so sterilization – and your business – can continue. It’s important to know what to do in the event that a wet pack is formed. There are ways to actively prevent them beforehand. Especially if the problem can stem from the autoclave in some cases. This includes:

• Use of good quality water
• Avoiding overloading the sterilizer
• Allowing proper cool down time post-sterilization
• Using good quality instrument wrapping/packaging
• Properly maintaining the temperature of storage area

These measures taken can help prevent a wet pack in the first place. But sometimes one can still get through, so then what? That’s where we come in. Do not try and solve the issue yourself. Thankfully, at Sterilizer Autoclave Solutions, we’re here to make sure you don’t have to – and we will do it for FREE. With our service technicians available 24/7, we can help better diagnose your issue. And once we do that, we’ll take the necessary steps to get your autoclave back up and running properly.

If you need help or have questions related to autoclaves or anything else, you can call us at 704-966-1650, Option 3 for our Free Tech Support. Or you can use the links below to make use of our other service programs

As always if you have any questions about this product or anything else please feel free to contact us and take advantage of our “FREE TECH SUPPORT.”

We also offer FREE VIRTUAL TECH SUPPORT to “See and Talk” with a “Real Time Live Technician” for any problems you may be in need of help with.

You can also use our “FREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM”. Take the guesswork and worrying about what unit is due for maintenance and which maintenance cycle it is time for. We will keep track of all your autoclaves and let you know when it’s time for anything.