Sterile shelf life and expiration dating.
When products are packaged so that they remain sterile, the archaic practice of outdating is no longer necessary. Instead, expiration dates can be used as a tool for controlling the hospital's inventory. In this article, the Journal's publisher explains how products become contaminated and outlines steps CS professionals can take to guard against contamination.
D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D013242:Sterilization / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States