PROBE LAB INDIA

CHALLENGES IN THE DISINFECTION OF 

ULTRASOUND PROBES

• The disinfection system for ultrasound probes that today is the most widely used system in medical facilities across the country.
• The safest approach is always use a disinfection soak station with vapor control when soaking an instrument in any high-level disinfectant.
• Ultrasound departments are faced with their own unique issues when it comes to high-level disinfection. Challenges related to safety, rinse, time, temperature and probe disinfection depth are among the most common. 

THE RINSE CONTROVERSY

• One widely used technique of rinsing endovaginal/endorectal probes after disinfection is to hold it under a faucet of running water for at least a minute. 
• A typical faucet flow rate is approximately three minute.

REPROCESSING TIMES

Total cycle time is very important. Not only does Resert significantly save on rinse water but it also shaves off 7.75 minute. reprocessing steps based on a simulated disinfection cycle of an endovaginal/probe.

• Cidex OPA & Metricide OPA require 12 minutes for manual disinfection at 68°F; 2 minutes to fill and empty 3 separate 2-gallon rinse bowls; plus 3 minutes for the 3 separate rinse/holds – for a total of 17 minutes.
• Resert requires 8 minutes for manual disinfection at 68° F; 15 seconds to fill and empty the GUS rinse container; plus one minute for rinse/hold, for a total of 9.25 minutes.

MAINTAINING TEMPERATURE

• Maintaining disinfectant temperature has also been a ‘hot’ topic for Joint Commission Inspectors.  
• Both OPA and Resert require a minimum of 68°F when manually disinfecting.  
• The quick fix for OPA and Resert is to set the room temperature to 70°F, but this is not always possible. 
• It is even a greater challenge with glutaraldehyde-based HLDs that require a minimum of 77°F. 
• designed specifically for the soaking containers used to disinfect endovaginal and endorectal probes.

SOAKING DEPTH

• The handle and the area directly above it are often touched during an exam and could easily be a source for cross contamination if not properly disinfected.