These cleaning verification tests include adenosine triphosphate
(ATP) testing or other chemical reagent tests that detect clinically rel-
evant soils such as proteins or carbohydrates. Typically in these tests,
a processing team member would swab the scope and either insert
the swab into a handheld machine to see if it detects bioburden or
ATP, or apply the swab to a solution and look for particular color
changes. Though this step does add a cost to your reprocessing prac-
tices, periodic verification of cleaning effectiveness may help reduce
errors in manual cleaning and improve your overall process.
4
Scope storage
You should store your endoscopes in a drying cabinet. A review
of the evidence shows that the optimal storage for flexible
endoscopes facilitates drying, which decreases the potential for con-
tamination and provides protection from environmental contami-
nants.
Drying cabinets include a drying system that circulates HEPA-fil-
tered air throughout the cabinet and forces filtered air that's under
pressure through the endoscope channels. The internal and external
surfaces of the endoscope are continuously dried this way, suppress-
ing bacterial growth. If you're not using a drying cabinet, you may
store flexible endoscopes in a closed cabinet with HEPA-filtered air
that provides positive pressure and allows air circulation around the
flexible endoscopes.
How long can you safely store scopes before you must reprocess
them? Although AORN previously recommended a maximum time of
5 days, we have found that this decision should ultimately be left up
to the facilities themselves. This is because evidence regarding maxi-
mum safe storage is largely inconclusive. Professional organizations
have recommended maximum storage times of anywhere from 3
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