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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4
remove as much debris as possible before you take the scope to the
processing area. There, you must leak-check the scope to ensure the
device isn't damaged. This is just the beginning of the scope's long
reprocessing journey. The more you can standardize the many steps
along the way, the better.
Enzymatic detergents or enzymatic detergent-disinfectants help
break down proteins and other biological debris in the lumens of the
scope, but many things must be done just so before, during and after
the soak. You must mix the enzymatic product per label instructions,
soak the scope for the indicated amount of time and change the solu-
tion after each scope or per label instructions. Used solution may not
work as well as fresh solution.
You must take off all the removable caps and ports so that you can
thoroughly clean and soak them with the scope. When scrubbing the
channels, you must you use the appropriate brush(es) — make sure
those brushes are in good shape to scrub all the internal surfaces of
the lumens.
Disposable brushes are designed for a single use and may not be
used on more than one scope. Reusable brushes must be intact and
high-level disinfected between uses. Discard them if the bristles are
worn or there are any sharp wires that have come loose that could
tear the lumens. Once you've brushed the scope thoroughly — a good
sign you've done so is when you don't obtain any more debris — it's
time to flush the lumens with water. Then you must blow the chan-
nels with air to remove any remaining water, so as to not dilute the
high-level disinfectant (HLD) solution.
Test the HLD for potency before each use. Follow the instructions
provided by the HLD solution and the test strip manufacturers. You
place the scope in the HLD solution along with the cleaning
brush(es), if reusable, and all the accessories, per scope manufac-
E N D O S C O P Y
