Nestable sterility-protecting caps for separated connectors

A method for protecting separated ends of medical connectors, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a pair of caps, each of the caps sized and shaped to provide a protective union about a separated medical connector and to be selectively joined together, the pair comprising:
• a male cap having a threaded projecting portion with a hollow interior portion, the male cap being adapted for selective coupling to a complimentary female cap or a separated female medical connector;
• and
• a female cap having a threaded interior portion, the female cap being adapted for selective coupling to a complimentary male cap or a separated male medical connector by receiving at least a portion of the male cap or separated male medical connector within the threaded interior portion thereof;
• adjoining the male cap and the female cap together to form a nested pair;
• processing the pair to assure internal surfaces are sterile;
• separating a pair of medical connectors, exposing an unattached female connector and an unattached male connector;
• twisting the nested pair apart to provide the male cap and female cap;
• coupling the female cap to the male connector;
• and
• coupling the male cap to the female connector.

A nestable pair of caps for use in protecting separated medical connectors, comprising:

• a female cap having a gripping portion and a hollow interior portion;
• a male cap adapted for selective coupling to the female cap, the male cap having a gripping portion and a tubular portion adapted to project within the hollow interior portion of the female cap when the male cap is coupled to the female cap, the hollow interior portion and the tubular portion having cooperating geometries to facilitate secure engagement of the male cap and the female cap;
• and
• a seal disposed between the female cap and the male cap, the seal being adapted to prevent contamination of the hollow interior portion of the female cap and the tubular portion of the male cap, the seal also being adapted to limit evaporation or loss of a antiseptic agent disposed within the pair of caps;
• wherein the female cap and the male cap are adapted for selective disengagement from one another and individual engagement of separated medical connectors.