to the process laid out by the manufacturer of the testing strips. After
the facility's endoscopes are washed with enzymatic cleaner, they're
placed into automated endoscope reprocessors (AERs). After the
cycle, they're ready for the verification test.
Mr. Henderson says the verification test requires a tech to run 20ccs
of sterile water through a reprocessed scope and catch the water in a
cup, in which a testing strip is placed. The strip will turn color if
bioburden such as protein, carbohydrates or blood is present, with
the color of the strip indicating the type of soil detected.
"We compare the color of the strip to the results chart provided by
the test manufacturer," says Mr. Henderson. "Following a successful
test, scopes are hung in a drying cabinet."
The techs test five scopes at the end of each day. By the end of each
week, a typical scope has been tested twice. "The test only takes a
few moments to complete, allowing us to take corrective action
immediately," says Mr. Henderson. "Every once in a while, a scope
will test positive for bioburden. When that happens, the scope is
rewashed, run through our AER a second time and tested again."
A scope almost always passes the verification test the second time.
But on rare occasions when a scope again tests positive, Mr.
Henderson sends it out for repair.
"Scopes that fail the test a second time always have a problem, such
as a seal or rubber piece that has come lose or cracked, causing
bioburden to get trapped inside," explains Mr. Henderson. "Some of
these problems may not have been discovered if we weren't using the
testing strips."
Show the benefits
Adding steps, no matter how small they might seem, to the reprocess-
ing process in a busy facility is a significant concern, concedes Mr.
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