Which method should a technician use to sterilize equipment filled with blood?

The autoclave is the preferred method for sterilizing equipment filled with blood because it uses steam under pressure to eliminate all forms of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and spores. This high-temperature method is particularly effective in ensuring that all infectious materials are destroyed, making it suitable for equipment that may have been in contact with blood or other biohazardous materials.

Other methods, while useful for cleaning or disinfecting, do not achieve the same level of sterilization. For instance, soaking in a disinfectant may reduce the number of pathogens but might not eliminate all spores or certain resistant organisms. Similarly, using a bleach solution is effective for surface disinfection, but it does not guarantee that all internal components of the equipment are sterile. Washing with soap and water is important for general cleaning but does not provide sterilization, as it does not kill all microorganisms present.

In the context of patient care, it is imperative to utilize the most effective sterilization method for safety, and the autoclave fulfills this requirement convincingly.