Why Choose Serim’s PINNACLE Tests for Verification of Your Medical Instrument Cleaning
Proper cleaning of medical instruments before reuse is critical in order to reduce the incidence of surgical site infections (SSI’s) and healthcare-associated infections (HAI’s). Four critical factors (enzymatic detergent concentration/activity, wash cycle time, wash cycle temperature, and mechanical action) influence effectiveness of all cleaning processes and are essential for proper cleaning of medical instruments. A deficiency with any of these key factors may cause inadequate cleaning of medical instruments. Verification tests for washer disinfector validation and ultrasonic cleaners must respond to all 4 of these critical factors to adequately verify the entire cleaning process.
Why is Testing Important?
Regular medical device cleaning validation is an integral component of quality assurance programs for hospitals and surgery centers. Regular testing verifies that the equipment is functioning properly, identifies any potential deficiencies, and decreases the risk of surgical site infections.
The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI ST79:2017) currently recommends testing mechanical cleaning equipment daily and after any major repairs. AAMI also states that “Effective cleaning is a multistep process that relies on several interdependent factors: the quality of the water; the quality, concentration, and type of detergent or enzymatic cleaner; the washing method… the time and temperature parameters and load capacity of the equipment; and operator and equipment performance.1” These guidelines are supported by AORN and other organizations.