been trained on the devices, are professionals,
and have the insight and critical thinking
skills gained through certification and contin-
uing education," says Mr. Duro.
The CBSPD, known for its Certified Sterile
Processing and Distribution Department
Technician credential, which establishes com-
petency in surgical instrument reprocessing,
now also offers a specialized Certified Flexible
Endoscope Reprocessor credential for quali-
fied staff (sterileprocessing.org/gi.htm).
"If your facility is routinely processing GI
scopes, it should be considered," says Ms.
Swanson. "You're not going to find administra-
tors who want to clean scopes, or who know
them in and out and will get up to their elbows
to demonstrate. But they understand there is a
lot of complexity in cleaning, and want to
make sure their staffs are carrying it out cor-
rectly."
Step 3: High-level disinfection
The brushing and flushing of manual cleaning
are followed by chemical action, as the scope
is immersed in a tub or sink filled with a liq-
uid germicide solution. Since effective high-
level disinfection depends on specific concen-
trations, temperatures and immersion times,
it's important to adhere to the instructions
provided by both the chemical's and the
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