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jimb2 t1_jac3gmv wrote

That's how it works. Those tools are basically punched out by machines, some with a bit of human finishing. Those things are ok to use, but they are not the same quality as older instruments that would last for years. Single-use instruments can be made of cheaper metal etc and won't stand up to repeated use.

Autoclaving is a slow, manual, small batch process that uses a lot of energy. If the whole process is not done carefully, infection can be spread by poorly autoclaved instruments, potentially leading to infection, harm, death and million dollar law suits. This happens. More expensive stuff is disinfected and reused, but for the simple tools, it's smarter to open a new sterile pack.

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