Automated Washing Systems Flashcards
What are the stages of the AWD?
- flush/pre-wash - saturates contamination and removes gross contamination
- Main wash - supplemented by detergent to more effectively remove biological matter
- Rinse - removes any remaining residue, biological or chemical before disinfection
- Thermal disinfection - actively kills microorganisms with the use of heated water
- Drying - uses hot air to remove any remaining moisture from the surface of the instruments
When is contamination removed from the AWD?
between each stage when the water is changed
When must protein and prions be removed in an AWD?
During the wash stages
Explain the temperatures for each stage of the WD
Flush/Prewash - <35 degrees
Main Wash - temperature dependent on chemical used for process
Rinse - <65 degrees
Thermal Disinfection - between 90-95 degrees for minimum 1 minute
Drying - generally around 100 degrees
What are advantages of WD’s ?
- consistency
- traceability - automated processes produce a printable record of each cycle
- doesn’t require a member of staff
What are daily checks for the WD?
- check the spray arm spins freely without obstruction
- check spray jets are not blocked
make sure there is no debris in the chamber - check condition of the door seal
- verify there is enough chemical in the reservoir
- record disinfection temperature of the first cycle every day
What stage comes after the WD?
inspection using a illuminated magnifier
What is loading requirements for WDs?
- no overlapping or shadowing of equipment
- Hinged instruments must be opened at the hinge
- All assemblies must be disassembled beforehand
What do you do if an instrument is still contaminated after going through the WD?
reprocess it through the ultrasonic bath
then reprocess through the WD
What are weekly tests for the WD?
