Which of the following best describes an appropriate method for a medical assistant to ensure sterility while handling instruments?

To maintain sterility while handling instruments, it's essential to minimize contact as much as possible. Avoiding touching the instruments until they're needed ensures they remain in a sterile state, reducing the risk of contamination from hands or other surfaces. This practice is a critical part of infection control protocols in a medical setting.

The options that suggest alternative methods, like only washing hands thoroughly, do not adequately address the prevention of contamination of the instruments themselves. Simply washing hands does not equate to maintaining sterility. Storing instruments in a non-sterile area is counterproductive, as it exposes them to environments where contaminants can easily settle on them. Additionally, covering instruments with a cloth until the procedure starts can lead to a false sense of security; unless the cloth is also sterile, it can introduce contaminants.

Therefore, the approach of not handling instruments until they are needed is the best method to uphold sterility and ensure patient safety during medical procedures.