Should Sterile Services Department test Power Tools ie: - Mini Drivers, Maxi Drivers as part of the reprocessing of these devices? If so, in which area of the department should the testing be carried out? Should it be within the Wash Area, or should it take place following cleaning but prior to repacking. In other words within the Cleanroom? I have heard many differing opinions on this issue. Is there a definitive answer?

Thanks in anticipation
Martin

Testing and lubricating (according to manufacturer's guidelines) is a part of reprocessing. Power tools that require lubricating should be connected to air supply after lubrication and then run for a few seconds in each direction. So testing is carried out in the lubricating stage. The issue of where should lubricating and testing should take place is indeed controversy.

Yaffa Raz

Dear Martin,

Robert Farmer of Linvatec was sending me the following comment:
"We do not have a recommendation for a specific location that you would test a handpiece. This is generally up to the hospitals cleaning guidelines. I would think that the process for most hospitals would be to clean the debris from the handpiece, apply lubricant as directed, and then test the handpiece. Again, as far as the location is concerned it is up to the specific facility and their interpretation of what "clean" is for that product."

Best regards,
Robert Farmer
Product Manager Powered Instruments
Linvatec
email:

Remark from Wim Renders:
In my opinion lubricating (if necessary) and testing are activities that belong to the wash area. If you wipe the handpiece with alcohol 70° after testing, you can pass it to the clean area without problems.

Martin,

I give you hereby the additionnal comment of Robert Farmer (Linvatec) on your question if a handpiece should be tested in the CSSD.

"In my opinion, the only reason to run a handpiece in the cleaning process is if the manufacturer recommands lubricating the handpiece after use. The reason you would run the handpiece is to ensure that the lubrication is distributed throughout the handpiece properly.
Testing the handpiece during the cleaning process is of no real benefit, because the only thing you are testing is to see if the handpiece is running. It will not tell you if the handpiece is operating at the proper speed and torque. You can only evaluate (test if you will) speed and torque when the handpiece is being used in surgery. With that said, the surgeon will know during the case if the handpiece needs to be serviced."

Robert Farmer,
Product Manager, Powered Instruments,
Linvatec
Email:
Website: www.linvatec.com

Martin,

I would suggest that the lubrication and testing of all power tools is done within the wash area following decontamination. I do agree that the real test of a power tools function occurs during use by the surgeon but as alot of companies suggest lubrication following decontamination the only way to properly do this is by running the hand piece so that the lubrication is distributed throughout. If possible the hand piece should be run under an extraction hood so that any particles distributed are taken away through a vent.

I feel strongly that the last place this type of lubrication should take place is in the packing area where particles will be sprayed into the air adding to an increase in particle counts. If you are to keep the packing area as a Class L status then the testing of power tools within it should be avoided at all cost.