Key parts
Key parts are parts of equipment that could introduce microorganisms directly or indirectly into a vulnerable patient site if contaminated. Examples depend on the procedure and equipment being used.
NurseNet Clinical Skills
Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT)
Learn the principles of Aseptic Non-Touch Technique, how key parts and key sites are protected, and how careful preparation and technique help reduce the risk of contamination during clinical procedures.
Core ANTT principles
01
Identify key parts
Know which equipment parts must remain aseptic.
02
Identify key sites
Recognise vulnerable patient sites that must be protected.
03
Do not touch
Avoid direct contact with key parts and key sites.
04
Protect the field
Prepare equipment and the working area carefully.
05
Maintain asepsis
Recognise and respond to contamination immediately.
Understanding ANTT
What is Aseptic Non-Touch Technique?
Aseptic Non-Touch Technique is an approach used during clinical procedures to help protect vulnerable sites from contamination. The central idea is to identify the parts of equipment and patient sites that must remain aseptic and prevent unnecessary contact with them.
ANTT is not simply about wearing gloves or opening sterile equipment. It is a way of thinking about contamination risk throughout the whole procedure.
Student nurses should learn to recognise key parts and key sites, prepare the procedure correctly and stop if asepsis has been compromised.
The safest habit is simple: identify what must stay aseptic before the
procedure begins, then protect it throughout.
Key concept
Key parts and key sites
Understanding these two ideas makes ANTT much easier to apply in practice.
Key sites
Key sites are vulnerable patient areas that must be protected from microorganisms during a procedure, such as access points, wounds or other sites identified by the procedure and local guidance.
If you are unsure which parts or sites are “key” during a procedure,
ask your supervisor before you begin.
Safe preparation
Before you begin an aseptic procedure
Good preparation reduces interruptions, unnecessary movement and the risk of contaminating equipment once the procedure has started.
Understand the procedure
Know what you are doing, what supervision you require and the local procedure or guideline that applies.
Gather equipment
Collect everything needed before starting so that the procedure is not interrupted unnecessarily.
Check packaging
Check that relevant equipment is intact, in date and suitable for use.
Prepare the environment
Reduce avoidable contamination risks and create a suitable working area according to local guidance.
Perform hand hygiene
Complete hand hygiene at the correct moment using the method required by local policy.
Explain the procedure
Confirm patient identity, explain what you are going to do and maintain privacy and dignity.
Step-by-step thinking
A practical ANTT approach
The exact sequence varies by procedure, but these principles help you think safely throughout.
1
Identify the key parts and key sites
Decide before starting which parts of the equipment and which patient sites must remain protected from contamination.
2
Prepare the aseptic field
Set up the procedure using the method required locally and avoid unnecessary contact with protected equipment.
3
Protect key parts
Handle equipment by non-key parts wherever possible and avoid touching protected components directly.
4
Protect the key site
Avoid unnecessary contact with the vulnerable patient site and follow the approved procedure technique.
5
Recognise contamination
If a key part or key site is touched or contamination is suspected, stop and take the appropriate corrective action.
6
Complete safely
Dispose of equipment appropriately, perform hand hygiene as required and document the procedure according to local policy.
Avoiding contamination
Common mistakes student nurses should watch for
Touching a key part
A key part should remain protected. If it is touched accidentally, treat this as potential contamination.
Reaching across the field
Poor positioning can increase contamination risk. Arrange equipment so the procedure can be completed efficiently.
Missing hand hygiene
Aseptic technique does not replace hand hygiene. Both are required at the appropriate moments.
Assuming gloves make everything aseptic
Gloves are only one part of the technique and do not remove the need to protect key parts and key sites.
Starting before you are ready
Missing equipment can force you to interrupt the procedure and increase contamination risk.
Ignoring a breach
If you suspect contamination, do not carry on hoping it will be fine. Stop, reassess and seek guidance.
Gloves and ANTT
Gloves do not replace good aseptic technique
The type of gloves and protective equipment used depends on the procedure and local policy.
Never assume that wearing gloves means contamination cannot occur.
Gloves can become contaminated. Continue to protect key parts and key sites, perform hand hygiene at the correct moments and follow the technique required for the specific procedure.
Student nurse focus
How to build confidence with ANTT
ANTT becomes easier when you stop seeing it as a complicated list of rules and start thinking about what must remain protected throughout the procedure.
- Ask yourself which parts of the equipment are key parts.
- Identify the key site before opening equipment.
- Watch how experienced nurses position their equipment.
- Practise setting up the procedure before performing it on a patient.
- Ask your supervisor to identify any contamination risks you missed.
- Stop and seek advice if asepsis is compromised.
Safe aseptic practice is not about completing the procedure as quickly
as possible. It is about protecting the patient from avoidable contamination.
Next clinical skill
Next: PPE in Nursing.
The next NurseNet guide explains how personal protective equipment is selected and used as part of safe infection-prevention practice.
Continue to PPE