Comment by ketcomp

It sounds like a bad idea - but scalpels and metal tools are not thrown away either - they're sterilized. Something like a plastic tube may have 2 or 3 uses in it instead of just 1 - as long as the sterilization is within acceptable tolerances - why not? A reusable rocket too was unthinkable until a private company did it. One shouldn't discard experimental evidence just because it conflicts with one's belief systems.