State requirement record — Washington · Last verified Jul 2026
Washington Dental Sterilization & Spore Testing Requirements (2026)
Here's what Washington requires for sterilizer monitoring and record retention — verified against the state's primary source — plus what an inspector checks and a free printable log sheet.
Requirement on record
Last verified Jul 2026.
At least weekly
Washington requires biological (spore) testing of each heat sterilizer at least weekly when scheduled patients are treated.
5 years
Washington requires sterilization / spore-test records to be retained for at least 5 years.
WAC 246-817-655 (Sterilization and disinfection, environmental infection prevention and control)
Informational only — not legal advice. Verify current requirements with your state dental board.
§ 01 — Inspection record
What an inspector checks in Washington
When a Washington board inspector or surveyor reviews a practice's sterilization records, they're confirming the monitoring actually happened and is documented. Expect them to look for:
- 01A spore-test log showing at least weekly biological monitoring of every heat sterilizer in use.
- 02Records retained for at least 5 years and available on site.
- 03Chemical-indicator results recorded for processed loads, plus mechanical (time/temp/pressure) confirmation.
- 04Documented corrective action for any failed spore test, including retest and instrument recall.
- 05Compliance consistent with WAC 246-817-655 (Sterilization and disinfection, environmental infection prevention and control).
§ 02 — Questions of record
Washington sterilization FAQ
- How often do dental practices in Washington need to run a spore (biological) test?
- Washington requires biological (spore) testing of each heat sterilizer at least weekly when scheduled patients are treated.
- How long must Washington dental offices keep sterilization and spore-test records?
- Washington requires sterilization / spore-test records to be retained for at least 5 years.
- What regulation governs dental sterilization monitoring in Washington?
- In Washington, sterilization monitoring is governed by WAC 246-817-655 (Sterilization and disinfection, environmental infection prevention and control). ClaveLog has verified this against the primary source.
- What should a Washington practice do if a spore test fails?
- Follow the CDC protocol: immediately take the affected sterilizer out of service, review the load, and re-test. Re-process and recall any implicated instruments as directed, document every step with dates and initials, and only return the sterilizer to service after a passing biological test. Keep this corrective-action record with your Washington sterilization log — inspectors look for it.
Keep your Washington sterilization records inspector-ready — automatically.
ClaveLog logs every autoclave load from a phone in seconds, tracks spore tests from any lab, and prints a board-ready packet in one click. Stop printing sheets — keep it digital.
§ 03 — Cross-reference