# In reference to the Spaulding Classification System for contaminated items, semi critical items should be reprocessed by:
A. Immersion in a tuberculocidal disinfectant
B. Heat sterilization if the material is heat stable
C. Washing with a chlorhexidine gluconate solution
D. A spray-wipe-spray technique
The correct answer is B. heat sterilization if the material is heat stable.
Semi critical items are defined as instruments that do not penetrate soft tissues or bone but are used inside the mouth and contact the mucosa.
These instruments must be sterilized after every use or must undergo high level disinfection if they are not heat stable.