Evaluation of residual protein on unprocessed and decontaminated dental extraction forceps

Research into protein contamination of surgical instruments has received increasing attention and has focused on a quantitative analysis, without subsequent identification of these proteins. This study aimed to validate methods for the isolation and identification of instrument protein contamination using extraction forceps as a model. The working ends of used, unclean and decontaminated forceps were boiled in 1% (v/v) SDS and samples precipitated using StrataClean™ resin and Amicon® filtration. Proteins were visualised using SDS-PAGE and identified by mass spectrometry and Western blot. A total of 17 proteins were identified from used, unclean forceps, including blood and bacterial proteins and 2 protein bands from decontaminated forceps samples which could not be accurately identified. The methods described, when used in conjunction with quantitative and surface analysis of instruments, can aid development of cleaning processes by identifying contaminants on used devices that have been removed following cleaning.