What technique should a medical assistant use to sterilize hemostats after an invasive procedure?

Using an autoclave is the most effective technique for sterilizing hemostats after an invasive procedure. An autoclave employs steam under pressure to achieve high temperatures, ensuring the elimination of all forms of microbial life, including spores. This method is recognized as the gold standard for sterilization in medical environments due to its thoroughness and reliability.

In contrast, soaking in a disinfectant solution or wiping with alcohol, while helpful for disinfection, does not achieve the level of sterilization required for instruments that will be used in invasive procedures. Disinfection methods typically reduce the number of pathogens to a safer level but may not eliminate all infectious agents. Boiling instruments can reduce microbial load, but it also falls short of achieving complete sterilization and may not be effective against all spore-forming organisms.

Therefore, autoclaving is the appropriate choice for ensuring that hemostats and other surgical instruments are completely sterile and ready for use in future procedures.