How should an intraoral digital sensor used on a patient who is HIV positive be handled between patients?

Correct answer: C. Cover with a double barrier during use, then clean and disinfect the sensor surface with an intermediate-level disinfecting wipe

• A. Sensors are not heat tolerant; autoclaving would destroy them.
• B. A single barrier has a documented perforation/leakage rate; double barriers are recommended for sensors. Wiping twice does not compensate for barrier failure.
• C. CORRECT. Digital sensors are SEMI-CRITICAL items that cannot be heat sterilized. The FDA/CDC-supported protocol is a barrier (many manufacturers and the ADA recommend double barriers because single sheaths perforate at a measurable rate), followed by removal of the barrier and cleaning/disinfection of the sensor surface with an EPA-registered intermediate-level disinfectant compatible with the device. Standard precautions apply to every patient — HIV status does not change the protocol.
• D. Sensors and their cables cannot be immersed — immersion destroys the electronics and is not a manufacturer-approved method.

Note: Standard (universal) precautions mean every patient is treated as potentially infectious — no special protocol for known HIV.