What is the FIRST step that should be taken immediately after removing a dental impression from the patient's mouth?

The first step after removing a dental impression is to rinse it thoroughly under running water. This removes blood, saliva, and debris that could interfere with the effectiveness of the subsequent disinfectant. After rinsing, the impression should then be disinfected using an appropriate disinfectant (such as 1:10 diluted sodium hypochlorite or an intermediate-level EPA-registered disinfectant) before being sent to the laboratory. The sequence is: rinse, then disinfect. Rinsing before disinfection is essential because organic material (blood, saliva) can inactivate many disinfectants.