To maintain the sterility of instruments, they must be:

To maintain the sterility of instruments, they must be packaged prior to sterilization. Packaging serves several important roles. It provides a barrier against contamination from the environment after the instruments have been sterilized. This is crucial because once instruments are sterilized, any exposure to unsterile surfaces or airborne contaminants can compromise their sterility.

Using appropriate packaging materials that are designed for sterilization ensures that the instruments remain free from microorganisms until they are needed for use. This is standard practice in infection control protocols to protect patients and staff from infections.

While storing instruments in a dry environment is important for preventing moisture-related contamination, it does not ensure they remain sterile after the sterilization process. Cleaning instruments after use is essential for effective sterilization but occurs before the sterilization process, not afterward. Wrapping in aluminum foil is not a standard or effective method for packaging instruments for sterilization, as it does not provide the necessary sterility assurance; rather, approved medical packaging materials are required for this purpose.