Final answer:
Controlled medical items are maintained in storage areas that meet mandated criteria by government agencies such as the FDA and scientific organizations like AOAC. The responsibility of following the procedures falls on hospitals and their staff.
Step-by-step explanation:
Controlled medical items will be maintained in storage areas that meet the criteria mandated by government agencies like the FDA, and other groups like the AOAC, a nonprofit scientific organization that establishes many protocols for standard use globally. These procedures and protocols are then adopted by medical device and equipment manufacturers. Ultimately, the end-users (hospitals and their staff) are responsible for following these procedures and can be held liable if a breach occurs and patients become ill from improperly cleaned equipment.