What is the best practice for soaking instruments that have lumens?

The best practice for soaking instruments that have lumens is to soak them horizontally. This orientation allows for effective cleaning and ensures that the detergent solution can effectively fill the lumens. When instruments are soaked horizontally, air pockets are minimized, which helps in achieving a thorough soak and enhances the removal of bio-burden from inside the lumens. It is crucial that instruments with lumens are soaked properly to ensure that all surfaces are adequately cleaned before sterilization.

In contrast, soaking vertically might leave parts of the lumen unsoaked and can trap air, leading to inadequate cleaning. Not soaking instruments at all disregards the necessary cleaning procedures required to prepare them for sterilization. Soaking in boiling water could potentially damage certain materials used in instruments and does not guarantee an effective cleaning of lumens. Thus, soaking horizontally is recognized as the most effective method for ensuring thorough cleaning of such instruments.