What is the end point of the surgical hand scrub?

What is the end point of the surgical hand scrub?

• A. At the wrist
• B. At the mid-forearm
• C. 2 inches above the elbow
• D. At the shoulder

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is where the sterile hand and forearm boundary is set during prep to create a maintainable sterile field. The end point is two inches above the elbow. Scrubbing to that level ensures the forearm is prepped and kept within the sterile zone when the gown and drapes are in place, while the upper arm above that line is covered by the sterile gown and doesn’t need to be scrubbed. Stopping at the wrist or mid-forearm would leave portions of the forearm outside the intended sterile field, and extending to the shoulder would involve areas that are impractical to keep sterile. So, two inches above the elbow is the practical, standard boundary.

The main idea here is where the sterile hand and forearm boundary is set during prep to create a maintainable sterile field. The end point is two inches above the elbow. Scrubbing to that level ensures the forearm is prepped and kept within the sterile zone when the gown and drapes are in place, while the upper arm above that line is covered by the sterile gown and doesn’t need to be scrubbed. Stopping at the wrist or mid-forearm would leave portions of the forearm outside the intended sterile field, and extending to the shoulder would involve areas that are impractical to keep sterile. So, two inches above the elbow is the practical, standard boundary.