Sterilization in Canada

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

I have been an electrologists for over 10 years and before that I was a dental assistant for 10 years.

In December, I was told my prestige 2100 is NOT suitable to sterilize CRITICAL instruments/implements any longer.

I was told if any instruments/implements come into contact with body fluids like blood, I need to dispose of in garbage.

I was sitting down thankfully!

I have 2 Prestige 2100. I love their size, the speed of sterilization process and their control services. After I use my implements I put into an ultrasonic cleaner, then dry, then I put implements unbagged into my Prestige 2100 get the sterilizing cycle going then I put gloves on, put each implements in individual bags and go through process of sterilization again. Overkill, I know…better be safe then sorry…but I was told that is not enough. I have purchased disposable tweezers for those pesky ingrown hairs that cannot be removed solely using an hypodermic needle or lancet…they are cheap enough that I don’t mind throwing them out as much as I did my $50 tweezers!

I contacted the Prestige 2100 manufacturer and they assure me their device is a steriliser thus is meant for critical sterilization.

Many of my colleagues use Accel HLD5 in their clinics for critical sterilization but I am reluctant to use liquid sterilization as I am a bit old school and I think sterilizing and bagging implements is the best way to keep control…I like showing my potential clients/patients that each items is individually sterilized and package for them. For people who use the ACCEL HLD5 how do you secure your instruments after the sterilization process? Do you bag them?

If you live in Canada, what has been requested from you lately from your health inspector?

#2

Hi kim,

this is quite alarming news from BC.

The guidelines for inspection and sterilization vary as you know province to province. I’m in Ontario and happily using my prestige 2100 without issues from the health department. They are certified as a medical and dental instrument sterilizer in canada.
The qualifications for a sterilizer here in Ontario are guidelined by this 2008 document by the ontario ministry of health which provides guidelines as to spore testing proceedures needed to operate a steam autoclave in the province of ontario:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/oph_standards/docs/pssp_2008.pdf

Where I live, electrology is not licensed, so the health department only becomes aware of an electrolysis establishment if they recieve a complaint from the public. At which point they perform a health inspection once a year. If you have no complaints, it’s possible you may never be inspected. The city health department can put the results of that inspection and make recommendations to the practitioner on methods to improve. However there are no “laws” for them to enforce save autoclave testing and record compliance.I have my prestige biologically monitored on a weekly basis ( the guideline minimum is every 2 weeks) by Mesa Labs mail in spore testing service.

What reason is the province of British Columbia giving for the prestige being insufficien? It’s pretty much THE STANDARD autoclave in use in esthetics accross canada so this doesnt make sense to me. Are they maybe sayingt hat the testing of it is insufficient and not the make/model of autoclave?

Seana Richmond CE

#3

Hi Kim I was so surprised by this thread I had to finally deal with my password issues on hairtell (been years since I’ve signed in).
I’m from B.C. as well. I have a few questions for you.

Who told you the prestige was not acceptable?
Who told you any item in contact with blood has to be thrown out?

I wouldn’t believe this unless it was a health inspector and then I would question them about those two points and ask for an updated website link and a list of approved autoclaves for B.C.

Here is a bc link that show otherwise to what you were told.


See page 11 some examples of steam autoclaves are listed and prestige is one of them.

See page 15 that states steam sterilization is preferable over chemical sterilization.

See page 27 for a table for cleaning of electrolysis tools and items. It states tweezers are critical items if used on ingrowns and to sterilize them (not to dispose of them).

Good luck I hope this gets resolved for you.

#4

Ok I’m back with the updated 2017 link for bc and unfortunately they have now stated prestige 2100 is not acceptable because bags aren’t vacuumed sealed (page 16)? This is too bad because the autoclave bags that go through a heating cycle show they have hit the right temperature so is this BC getting nit picky and a money grab in fines???

So many salons and tattoo parlours use the prestige and autoclaves are not cheap!

I have seen people who use chemical sterilization dry them on a towel and leave them until needed or put in a drawer. I have no idea if this is acceptable to health BC.

I agree that steam sterilization is more safer since they are protected in an autoclave bag until needed. Plus the chemical sterilization is hard on us and the environment and where do you store the tweezers safely? In an autoclaved bag!? Ridiculous!

I have emailed prestige to see what they say about using the 2100 with bagged instruments. I’m sure you already have since the thread is a month old but I got to figure out what to do since I also have a 2100.
Sorry my post keeps changing cuz I keep getting madder and editing it lol

#5

This whole issue is BEYOND STUPIDITY.

There is no advantage ( and a lot of disadvantage) to having sterilizer bags “vaccum sealed”. This is a measure which would inhibit proper sterilization, not assist it. Additionally the autoclave pouches HAVE NOTHING TO DO with the autoclave function itself.You WANT steam to enter the sterilization ouches, because well this is what sterilized the implements! The CDC would clearly tell you there is ZERO probability of implements being contaminated by having non vaccuum sealed bags. This is a case of politicians with their HEAD UP THEIR ASS implementing policies that defy the laws of physics. They should be lynched!!!

#6

I agree this is beyond stupid!

So what I can gather (online research) is that the prestige is not meant to be used with autoclave pouches (even tho many use them in the autoclave and the bag indicators do change). Ok fine. One can use them to sterilize items without bags so…

What is the difference between chemical and steam sterilization if both need to transfer the cleaned items into another sterile item/drawer. There is no difference so why is the steam sterilization with prestige an issue in B.C.???

I hope the health inspector gave Kim some useful ideas on what to do vs "you can’t use that. goodbye’

#7

I estimate the increased cost of sterilization for electrolysis has increased by at least $20 per treatment with these regulations. I hope that the electrologists and estheticians are currently passing along this increased cost per treatment to the consumer, along with instructions on where to complain to.

The whole thing makes no sense at all. Chemical autoclaves are messy , and offer no better protection in any way.

Seana