Code of Massachusetts Regulations
243 CMR - BOARD OF REGISTRATION IN MEDICINE
Title 243 CMR 5.00 - The Practice Of Acupuncture
Section 5.08 - Safe Practice Provisions
Universal Citation: 243 MA Code of Regs 243.5
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1) In General. 243 CMR 5.08 contains the Committee's requirements for acupuncturists, acupuncture interns, and acupuncture assistants concerning the safe practice of acupuncture. The Committee may, at its discretion, issue additional requirements or guidelines that shall be observed by acupuncturists, interns and assistants.
(2) Sterilization.
(a)
All nondisposable needles, acupuncture equipment that comes into contact with
the patient's blood or body fluids, or penetrates the skin, and equipment used
to handle or store needles or other acupuncture equipment that comes into
contact with the patient's blood or body fluids, or penetrates the skin shall
be sterilized after each use. All equipment to be sterilized shall be
thoroughly cleaned before sterilization with a disinfectant or cleansing
solution. Disposable needles do not need to be sterilized after each use but
must be properly discarded after each use.
(b) Sterilization equipment shall be used and
maintained strictly in accordance with the guidelines of the manufacturer of
the equipment. Use of one of the following methods of sterilization is
required:
1. autoclaving with pressurized
steam;
2. dry heat sterilization;
or
3. ethylene oxide gas
sterilization.
(c) The
following methods of sterilization are unacceptable: boiling acupuncture
equipment, soaking acupuncture equipment in alcohol or other antiseptic
solution, or using a glass bead sterilizer.
(d) Sterilization equipment shall be
monitored regularly in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines to
determine whether the equipment is functioning properly.
(e) Sterilized acupuncture equipment shall be
clearly marked to distinguish it from unsterilized equipment. Sealed packages
containing sterilized equipment shall be marked with an expiration date. Any
equipment that is not used on the day the equipment was removed from a
sterilization package shall be resterilized before use.
(f) All nondisposable needles shall be
sterilized before disposal. After sterilization the needles shall be placed in
a rigid, puncture-proof sealed container for disposal. Disposal containers
shall be labeled as such, and shall carry the warning "CONTAMINATED
CONTENTS--USE PRECAUTIONS." Disposal containers shall be wiped with a suitable
disinfectant if blood or other bodily fluids are spilled on the outside.
Disposal containers shall be discarded appropriately.
(g) The parts of a patient's body to be
treated shall be swabbed with alcohol or an antiseptic agent prior to needle
insertion or any procedure which breaks the skin.
(3) Use of Disposable Needles.
(a) Before beginning
the first treatment on a new patient, a licensee who normally uses
nondisposable needles shall inform the patient that the patient has the right,
if he/she so chooses and at his/her expense, to have acupuncture performed with
disposable acupuncture needles.
(b)
If, in the course of treatment of a patient, a licensee learns that the patient
has AIDS, hepatitis, or another blood-borne highly infectious disease, or has
tested positive for the HTLV-III virus, then the licensee shall use disposable
needles in treating the patient.
(4) Use of Lasers. Within the practice of acupuncture, lasers and other regulated devices must be used in accordance with F.D.A. regulations and any other relevant laws and regulations. Investigational devices shall be used exclusively in a research setting and for research purposes.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Massachusetts may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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