NSQHS Standards Advisory No: A17/02: Batch Control Identification systems for dental practices and services

Megan Reilly

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released Advisory No. A17/02 Batch Control Identification systems for dental practices and services that details the requirements for dental practices and services to meet Action 3.17.1.

To reduce and manage infection risks associated with sterilisation of reusable medical devices and instruments, dental practices rely on the use of Batch Control Identification (BCI). Implementation of BCI systems by dental practices and services is supported by the Australian Dental Association Guidelines for Infection Control.

To meet the requirements of NSQHS Action 3.17.1 dental practices and services should have in place a BCI system that links steriliser cycle batch information of a critical item or sets of items that have been sterilised to an individual patient.

Advisory A17/02 can be found on the Commission’s website.