12 Rules of Asepsis

Front

Items

Back

Only sterile ITEMS are used within a sterile field

Front

Gowns

Back

GOWNS are considered sterile only in front from chest level to sterile field and sleeves from the cuff to 2 in. above the elbow.

Front

Tables

Back

TABLES are only sterile at table level

Front

Touch

Back

Persons who are sterile touch only sterile items or areas, unsterile persons only touch items that are unsterile.

Front

Reach

Back

unsterile persons aviod REACHing over a sterile field and sterile persons avoid leaning over unsterile areas

Front

Edge

Back

The EDGEs of any materile with sterile items are NOT sterile; contents within a sterile wrapper are sterile to within 1 in. of the edge.

Front

View

Back

The field is created as close as possibe to the time of use and kept within continuous VIEW.

Front

Area

Back

Sterile persons keep well within sterile AREAS

Front

Contact

Back

Sterile persons keep CONTACT with sterile items and areas to a minimum.

Front

Inches

Back

Unsterile persons stay at least 12 in. away from sterile areas.