When should instrument cassettes be wrapped according to standard protocols?

Instrument cassettes should be wrapped after cleaning and before sterilization to ensure that they remain free from contamination during the sterilization process. This step is crucial because wrapping provides a barrier to prevent any microorganisms from re-contaminating the instruments after they have been cleaned.

Cleaning the instruments first is essential to remove any debris, blood, or biological materials, which is necessary to achieve effective sterilization. If instruments are wrapped before cleaning, contaminants could be trapped inside the wrapping, making sterilization ineffective and potentially putting patients at risk.

Additionally, wrapping before patient use is not appropriate since sterilized instruments should be stored in a sterile environment until they are needed. Wrapping at the time of purchase also doesn't follow standard protocols since purchased instruments would typically need to be cleaned, sterilized, and wrapped before they can be used in a clinical setting. Therefore, wrapping after cleaning and before sterilization aligns with infection control practices to ensure patient safety.