What is typically required before instruments can be flash sterilized?

Before instruments can be flash sterilized, they should be visibly clean. This requirement is crucial because any contamination present on the instruments, such as debris, blood, or bioburden, can interfere with the sterilization process. Flash sterilization is often used for emergency situations where quick turnaround of instruments is necessary, but it relies on the effectiveness of the sterilization cycle to eliminate all microorganisms. Ensuring that instruments are visibly clean before flash sterilization enhances the likelihood that the sterilization process will be successful, making patients safer from potential infection.

Other options, while they may pertain to instrument handling and preparation in different contexts, do not apply to the specific requirements for flash sterilization. For example, thorough drying is important for some sterilization methods but is not a prerequisite for flash sterilization specifically. Wrapping instruments in plastic is not typically done for flash sterilization because the process is designed to occur rapidly, and providing a wrapper could cause steam penetration issues. Lastly, refrigeration is not relevant as it does not support the sterilization process and could promote bacterial growth if instruments were stored that way prior to sterilization.