Sterile Processing Week 2027 runs from Sunday, October 10 to Saturday, October 16. It is the week each year when hospitals and surgery centers recognize the people in the Sterile Processing Department (SPD), also called central service or central sterile, who clean, inspect, package and sterilize the instruments used in every procedure.
Sterile Processing Week dates
The Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) holds Sterile Processing Week every year starting on the second Sunday in October. Using that rule, the upcoming dates are:
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2026 | October 11–17 (completed) |
| 2027 | October 10–16 |
| 2028 | October 8–14 |
| 2029 | October 14–20 |
| 2030 | October 13–19 |
HSPA confirms the dates each year on its Sterile Processing Week page, so check there before you lock in plans.
Is it the same as Central Service Week?
Yes. The observance used to be called International Central Service Week. It is now Sterile Processing Week, and many people still call it Central Sterile Week, CS Week or SPD Week. They all mean the same week in October.
Why the week matters
Most patients never see the sterile processing department, but every surgery depends on it. Technicians decontaminate used instruments, inspect them for damage and bioburden, assemble trays, run and monitor sterilizers, and keep sterile supplies ready. A missing instrument or a tray that is not truly sterile can delay a case or put a patient at risk. Sterile Processing Week is a chance to make that work visible.
Ideas to celebrate your SPD team
- Say thank you in public. Have surgeons, OR nurses and leadership visit the department, or share a thank-you message in the hospital newsletter.
- Use HSPA’s free materials. HSPA offers free posters, cards and appreciation certificates, pre-written newsletter articles, and a list of SP Week proclamations you can print and display.
- Run an instrument challenge. An instrument identification contest or a tray-assembly race is fun and builds skills at the same time.
- Host a department tour. Invite OR, endoscopy and clinic staff to see decontamination, prep and pack, and sterilization up close. It builds respect and better communication between departments.
- Offer education. A lunch-and-learn or in-service on a hot topic, like instrument care or endoscope reprocessing, also helps technicians earn continuing education credits.
- Recognize certifications and milestones. Call out team members who earned their CRCST, CER or CHL this year, or who hit a work anniversary.
- Share a meal or small gifts. Simple gestures matter, especially for evening and night shifts, so plan something every shift can enjoy.
Thinking about a career in sterile processing?
Sterile Processing Week is also a good time to look at the field if you want a hands-on healthcare career without years of school. In New York, hospital central service technicians need an accepted certification such as the CRCST. Our guide on SPD certification explains your options, and this article covers what New York law requires.
Charisma SPD Certification & Staffing in the Bronx offers a 12-week CRCST course in person and live online. You can also try our free SPD practice test to see where you stand.
For hospitals and surgery centers
If your department is short-staffed, Charisma SPD also places sterile processing technicians, surgical technologists and other healthcare professionals at facilities across New York State. Contact us or call (914) 201-3382.
Frequently asked questions
When is Sterile Processing Week 2027?
October 10–16, 2027. It starts on the second Sunday in October each year.
When was Sterile Processing Week 2026?
October 11–17, 2026.
Who organizes Sterile Processing Week?
The Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA), which also awards the CRCST, CER, CIS and CHL certifications.
What is another name for Sterile Processing Week?
It was formerly called International Central Service Week. Many people also call it Central Sterile Week or SPD Week.
Dates for 2028 and later are calculated from HSPA’s second-Sunday-in-October rule. Always confirm with HSPA.
