kfariss

Thank you. Please be assured that we would never use an unsterile product. Often items may remain "sterile" because the package is intact, it has been safely stored and has no expiration date. These same item may be old enough that we (OR nursing) do not believe that it would be prudent to use. What we are seeking is a standard that can be presented to the nonclinical "numbers people" to support our stand. Their belief is "if the package is intact and there is no expiration date then it is still money on the shelf".

I'm not as concerned about the sterility but about the integrity of the product. Is there a general rule such as; "throw it out after 5 years"?

If a medical item has a date of manufacture but does not have an expiration date, is there a time period to consider as expired? For example, a ureteral stent dated July 2005. Often there are items such a foley catheters, suction catheters, syringes left in emergency carts that are there for years. At what point should it be considered not to be used?