Washer disinfector release for use after maintenance.

The article offers information on critical operational assessments to be performed by end-users after maintenance of surgical instruments and other reusable medical devices that are processed in a hospital sterile processing department (SPD) before release for use. Topics discussed include the importance of cleaning before sterilization of these medical devices, the use of automated washers for an SPD, and the importance of water quality in using an automated washer.