What is the first stage of the decontamination process in a washer-disinfector before drying items?

In the context of the decontamination process in a washer-disinfector, the first stage is the flush. This initial step effectively removes organic material and blood from instruments before they enter the main cleaning cycle. The flush involves a preliminary rinse that helps to dislodge debris and ensure that any large particles are cleared away, making the subsequent cleaning process more effective.

By starting with a flush, the washer-disinfector prepares the instruments for better exposure to cleaning agents during the wash phase that follows. This is vital for achieving high standards of hygiene and safety in dental practices, as any remaining contaminants can compromise the effectiveness of disinfection and sterilization processes.

This understanding highlights the importance of proper sequencing in the decontamination process, ensuring that each stage builds on the effectiveness of the previous one, and sets the foundation for successful thermal disinfection and drying of dental instruments afterward.