Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Medical Device Reprocessing Technician

🎯 Role Definition

A Medical Device Reprocessing Technician (also known as Sterile Processing Technician, SPD Technician, or CSSD Technician) is responsible for the safe, consistent, and regulatory-compliant decontamination, inspection, assembly, sterilization, storage, and distribution of reusable medical devices and instruments. This role supports perioperative services, endoscopy, interventional radiology, and other procedural areas by ensuring instrument functionality, sterility assurance, traceability, and on-time instrument availability while following AAMI, CDC, OSHA, FDA and Joint Commission standards.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Clinical Support Technician or Patient Care Assistant transitioning into central sterile services.
Environmental Services or Sterile Supply Aide with on-the-job SPD training.
Surgical Technologist or Operating Room Assistant seeking focus on instrumentation and reprocessing.

Advancement To:

Sterile Processing Lead / Supervisor
Central Sterile Manager or CSSD Supervisor
Perioperative Supply Chain / Instrument Coordinator
Infection Prevention Technician or Quality Assurance Specialist

Lateral Moves:

Endoscope Reprocessing Specialist / AER Technician
Biomedical Equipment Technician (with additional training)
Surgical Instrument Sales / Vendor Liaison

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform all stages of instrument reprocessing — receiving contaminated instruments, gross decontamination, ultrasonic cleaning, manual scrubbing, inspection, functional testing, assembly into trays, and packaging — ensuring each step meets departmental standard operating procedures and AAMI guidelines.
Operate, monitor and validate sterilization equipment including steam autoclaves, EO sterilizers, hydrogen peroxide low-temperature systems, and record sterilization cycles with date/time, cycle parameters, load contents, and operator ID to maintain complete sterility assurance records.
Reprocess flexible and rigid endoscopes according to manufacturer IFU and facility policy: pre-cleaning at bedside, leak testing, manual cleaning, use of automated endoscope reprocessors (AERs), high-level disinfection, channel flushing, and drying/bioburden control to prevent patient infections.
Inspect surgical and diagnostic instruments for cleanliness, corrosion, damage, sharpness, and proper function using magnification and checklists; remove and tag defective instruments and coordinate repair or replacement with biomedical or instrument vendor services.
Assemble procedure trays and case carts accurately per surgical preference cards and surgeon/instrument list; ensure correct count of instruments, inclusion of sterile accessories, indicator placement, and secure packaging for transport to sterile storage or operating rooms.
Perform biological and chemical indicator testing as required (daily, per sterilizer load profile, and for every sterilization modality change), document results, take corrective action for failed indicators, and communicate failures to leadership and infection prevention.
Maintain chain-of-custody and full traceability for instrument sets and high-risk devices using instrument tracking systems (T-DOC, CensiTrac, SterileView, or equivalent), including lot numbers, sterilizer load IDs, charge codes, and patient/use-level documentation.
Receive and process surgical instrument trays and specialty devices from external vendors and operating rooms, verify completeness, perform quality checks, and ensure proper storage and distribution using FIFO principles and sterile storage environmental controls.
Clean, maintain and perform routine preventive maintenance on decontamination sinks, ultrasonic cleaners, washer-disinfectors, sterilizers, AERs and other SPD equipment; escalate mechanical or safety issues to Biomedical Engineering and document service activities.
Follow hazardous materials protocols for handling and disposal of biohazardous waste, sharps, chemical disinfectants, and ethylene oxide gas safety procedures; maintain PPE use and spill-response readiness to protect staff and patients.
Participate in inventory management for sterile supplies, instrumentation, sterilization consumables, and surgical packs; place supply orders, monitor stock levels, rotate expiration-dated items, and reconcile discrepancies with purchasing or supply chain.
Maintain sterile storage areas and transport carts according to environmental controls and storage standards (temperature/humidity monitoring, clean room principles), perform routine inspections, and remove expired or compromised items.
Support operating room case turnover by staging trays and instruments, responding to urgent requests, and ensuring on-time availability of specialty sets for emergency and scheduled procedures.
Document reprocessing activities, corrective actions, equipment maintenance logs, and instrument traceability information in both paper and electronic systems to ensure regulatory readiness for audits and patient safety investigations.
Train and orient new SPD staff on sterilization processes, instrument identification, regulatory standards, and department policies; coach peers on best practices for decontamination and sterile handling.
Participate in internal quality assurance programs, competency assessments, and periodic audits to verify adherence to policies, manufacturer IFUs, and accreditation requirements; implement corrective action plans and monitor improvement metrics.
Investigate and respond to instrument-related incidents or near-misses, root-cause analyze process failures, coordinate recall or quarantine of suspect items, and communicate findings to clinical leadership and infection prevention.
Coordinate with clinical teams, OR leadership, and vendors to evaluate and introduce new surgical instruments, trays, or sterilization technologies; complete validation and qualification testing as required by facility policy.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory guidance (AAMI ST79, AAMI TIR12, CDC and manufacturer IFUs) and implement process changes to comply with revised standards, emerging device technologies, and best practices in reprocessing.
Apply strict aseptic technique and sterile handling when packaging, sealing and labeling trays and devices to prevent contamination, including use of chemical indicators, load-specific labeling, and single-use device management.
Ensure accurate case cart and instrument transport processes including safe handling, temperature control (for heat-sensitive devices), and secure documentation when devices move between departments or off-site facilities.

Secondary Functions

Assist with SPD process improvement projects such as workflow redesign, lean initiatives, and reduction of turnaround times using data-driven approaches and staff feedback.
Support departmental metrics collection and reporting (turnaround time, sterilizer utilization, instrument repair rates, biological indicator pass rates) to help managers and infection prevention track performance.
Participate in vendor demonstrations, new product evaluations, and validation studies for new sterilization consumables or instrument tracking software.
Cross-train in perioperative or endoscopy support roles to improve department flexibility and maintain service levels during peak volumes or staffing shortages.
Support audits by external accrediting bodies by preparing documentation, facilitating equipment validations, and responding to findings with corrective action plans.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Instrument identification and anatomy: ability to recognize a wide range of surgical and diagnostic instruments, specialty tray components, and delicate microsurgical tools.
Sterilization technologies: hands-on experience operating and validating steam autoclaves, ethylene oxide (EO) sterilizers, hydrogen peroxide low-temp systems, and washer-disinfectors.
Endoscope reprocessing: competency with automated endoscope reprocessors (AERs), leak testing, channel cleaning, enzymatic detergents, and IFU-driven scope processing.
Biological and chemical indicator testing: knowledge of BI and CI placement, incubation interpretation, documentation and corrective actions.
Instrument tracking systems: practical experience with sterile processing software (e.g., T-DOC, CensiTrac, SterileView, SterileTrack) for traceability and inventory management.
Manufacturer IFU and regulatory compliance: ability to interpret and follow device-specific instructions for use and standards such as AAMI ST79 and CDC guidelines.
Quality assurance & validation: performing load control, sterilizer qualification, preventive maintenance logs, and maintaining sterility assurance documentation.
Decontamination equipment operation: use of ultrasonic cleaners, manual cleaning protocols, enzymatic and sporicidal agents, and washer-disinfector cycles.
Basic computer skills: electronic documentation, electronic medical record (EMR) interfaces, inventory systems, and spreadsheet reporting.
Safe handling & hazardous waste: training in OSHA bloodborne pathogens, PPE use, chemical safety data sheets (SDS), and sharps management.

Soft Skills

Attention to detail and high personal accountability for patient safety and instrument integrity.
Strong communication skills to coordinate effectively with OR teams, nursing, vendors, and leadership.
Teamwork and collaboration within high-paced clinical environments.
Time management and prioritization: ability to manage multiple cases and urgent instrument requests under time pressure.
Problem-solving and critical thinking for troubleshooting equipment failures, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
Flexibility and adaptability to changing schedules and emergency case demands.
Professionalism and discretion when handling sensitive patient or case information.
Continuous learning mindset to stay current with evolving technologies, standards, and reprocessing practices.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required.

Preferred Education:

Certification such as CRCST (Certified Registered Central Service Technician) through IAHCSMM, or CBSPD certification.
Associate degree or certificate in Sterile Processing, Surgical Technology, or allied health field is a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Sterile Processing / Central Service
Surgical Technology
Medical Laboratory Technology
Nursing or Allied Health
Biomedical Sciences

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

Entry-level: 0–2 years with on-the-job training.
Experienced: 2–5 years of SPD or perioperative instrument experience for mid-level roles.

Preferred:

1–3 years of prior sterile processing/CSSD experience in an acute care hospital or ambulatory surgery center.
Documented experience with endoscope reprocessing, instrument tracking systems, and sterilizer validation/BI testing preferred.
Prior exposure to accreditation processes (Joint Commission, DNV) and participation in QA programs is advantageous.