Many types of cleaning procedures maybe used. Disinfect and clean as needed. Consult with your infection control specialist and follow their advice. These procedures are intended as guidance only, and are only some of the suggested means to clean and disinfect cuffs and tubing. Always follow the instructions from the manufacturers of the disinfectants, or cleaners.

Alcohol or chlorine wipes may be used. Rise after a chlorine wipe has been used. Be sure to completely air dry before applying to a patient.

Remove the rubber inflation bag from the Dacron® cuff. Both may be sterilized with commercially available disinfectant soaks. Some disinfectants may cause skin irritation. Rinse thoroughly to remove any residual disinfectants. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Caution is advised when using dark colored soaks which may stain the cuffs. Test a single cuff to ensure that no damage will occur.

Chlorine bleach solutions will shorten the life of the cuff; do not autoclave. Non-chlorine bleach is recommended, if required.

Hand washing will enhance the service life of the Calibrated® V-Lok® cuff. Remove the inflation bag and wash the cuff in warm, soapy water; then rinse thoroughly. Allow the cuff to air dry, then insert the inflation bag.

When using machine washing, be sure that the hook and loop fasteners are engaged so that the hooks do not collect lint or other fibers. These fasteners can melt at temperatures above 325 degrees F, 162 degrees C, when being ironed or pressed.

Accuracy: +/- 3 mmHg, European Standards EN1060-1, non-invasive sphygmomanometers, EN 1060-2 supplementary requirements, as well as ANSI/AAMI SP-10.

Internal diameter of tube containing mercury: 5.0 mm

Warning to users: If luer lock connectors are used in the construction of the tubing, there is a possibility that they might be inadvertently connected to intravascular fluid systems, allowing air to be pumped into a blood vessel.

Annex B (informative):

B.1 Guidelines and precautions

A mercury-type sphygmomanometer should be handled with care. In particular, care should be taken to avoid dropping the instrument or treating it in any way that could result in damage to the manometer. Regular checks should be made to ensure that there are no leaks from the inflation system and to ensure that the manometer has not been damaged so as to cause a loss of mercury.

B.2 Health and safety when handling mercury
Exposure to mercury can have serious toxicological effects; absorption of mercury results in neuropsychiatric disorders and, in extreme cases nephrosis. Therefore precautions should be taken when carrying out any maintenance to a mercury-type sphygmomanometer.
When cleaning or repairing the instrument, it should be placed on a tray having a smooth, impervious surface which slopes away from the operator at about a 10 degree to the horizontal, with a water-filled trough at the rear. Suitable gloves (e.g. latex) should be worn to avoid direct skin contact. Work should be carried out in a well-ventilated area, and ingestion and inhalation of the vapour should be avoided.
For more extensive repairs, the instrument should be packed with adequate padding, sealed in a plastic bag or container, and returned to a specialist repairer. It is essential that a high standard of occupational hygiene is maintained in premises where mercury-containing instruments are repaired. Chronic absorption is known to have occurred in individuals repairing sphygmomanometers.

B.3 Mercury Spillage
When dealing with a mercury spillage, wear latex gloves. Avoid prolonged inhalation of mercury vapour. Do not use an open vacuum system to aid collection.
Collect all the small droplets of the spilt mercury into one globule and immediately transfer all the mercury into a container, which should then be sealed.
After removal of as much mercury as practicable, treat the contaminated surfaces with a wash composed of equal parts calcium hydroxide and powdered sulfur mixed with water to form a thin paste. Apply this paste to all contaminated surfaces and allow to dry. After 24 h, remove the paste and wash the surfaces with clean water. Allow to dry and ventilate the area.

B.4 Cleaning the manometer tube
To obtain the best result from a mercury-type sphygmomanometer, the manometer should be cleaned at regular intervals (e.g. under the recommended maintenance schedule). This will ensure that the mercury can move up and down the tube freely, and respond quickly to changes in pressure in the cuff.
During cleaning, care should be taken to avoid the contamination of clothing. Any material contaminated with mercury should be sealed in a plastic bag before disposal in a refuse receptacle.