For effective infection prevention and control, including decontamination, it is important that new items and equipment are of suitable quality and fit for purpose. Reusable items must be compatible with the decontamination methods employed by the practice. Single-use items, identified by the symbol shown below, are disposable and not intended to be reprocessed for use on the same or another patient. NB: This symbol will appear on packaging but might not be present on individual items.
Examples of items that might have the single-use symbol include endodontic instruments (hand and rotary), masks, matrix bands, plastic impression trays, prophy cups and brushes, and facemasks.
The re-use of a single-use device has legal implications. Anyone who reprocesses or re-uses a device intended for use on a single occasion bears full responsibility for its safety and effectiveness.
Write a policy for the purchase of re-useable items, single-use items and decontamination equipment (see Procurement of Infection Control and Decontamination Items Policy template).
Document the practice’s specific requirements, price comparisons and advice sought from various manufacturers.
Ensure items are fit for purpose, compatible with existing equipment, easy to decontaminate or clean (e.g. the hard surfaces of decontamination equipment), and maintain.
Review current decontamination procedures in relation to devices purchased for the first time.
Ensure products have a UKCA or CE mark which signifies the manufacturer’s compliance with the UK Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 [3] and Medical Devices (amendment) (GB) Regulations 2023 [4].
* Note: Following Brexit, new medical devices placed on the GB market will have a UKCA mark. For items procured prior to Brexit, the CE mark will remain indefinitely valid.
