A sterilisation tracking code — also known as a Batch Control Identification (BCI) — relates to the sterilisation cycle of the instruments used during a patient’s procedure. Recording these codes helps practices:
Maintain detailed sterilisation records
Trace instruments used in patient care
Quickly generate a list of affected patients, should the need arise
Allocating sterilisation codes to an appointment
Sterilisation codes (also known as steri-codes) are entered from the charting screen for each appointment. To add a sterilisation code:
Open the appointment in the patient's chart screen
Click the barcode icon next to the red delete button
Enter the sterilisation code manually or scan it using a barcode scanner
💡 Top Tip: Barcode scanner use is supported. For best results, set the scanner to input an Enter keystroke after the code — this will automatically save the entry.
Code Requirements
Each sterilisation code must be linked to an appointment
If a code is not linked to an appointment, an error message will appear
You can add multiple steri-codes to an appointment at any time, including after the appointment is completed.
Codes can only be deleted from appointments that are still marked as current - not from completed appointments
Fixing appointment link errors with sterilisation codes
If an appointment is linked to the wrong treatment plan, and steri-codes have already been added, you’ll need to delete the codes before unlinking the appointment. Once the appointment has been successfully relinked to the correct treatment plan, you can re-enter the sterilisation codes as needed.
Deleting a sterilisation code from a treatment plan
Steri-codes can only be deleted from open appointments. To delete the code you need to:
Open the appointment
Confirm that it is not marked as completed
Click the barcode icon next to the red delete icon
Note down any codes if you need these later
Delete the sterilisation code from the bin icon on the steri-code screen
If the appointment is already completed, you won’t be able to delete the sterilisation code. In this case, speak to a user with high enough permissions to see if the appointment can be re-opened temporarily.
Common issue - Can’t delete or unlink an appointment
If you're unable to delete or unlink an appointment from a treatment plan, check whether any sterilisation codes have been recorded.
Appointments cannot be unlinked from a treatment plan while steri-codes are attached. Remove the code(s) first, then proceed with unlinking, before adding your steri-codes back in.
Searching for a sterilisation code
To search for a specific sterilisation batch code and view all related appointments:
Go to the 'Appointment' report
Enter the sterilisation code into the 'Sterilisation Batch Code' field
The report will list all appointments associated with that code
Audit Trail
Sterilisation code audit history is available on the Patient Audit tab (Level 4 users only).
Open the patient’s record
Go to the 'Audit' tab
Click 'View Changes' to see sterilisation code information.