Periodic Testing, Maintenance and Validation of Equipment Flashcards
what daily and weekly checks are carried out on a washer-disinfector
○ Checking the spray arms rotate and spray jets are not blocked
○ Checking the door seal for damage or contamination
○ Verifying the condition of the load carrier
○ Checking there are no instruments (parts) from previous cycles
○ Making sure the strainer / filter is clear
○ Making sure there is a sufficient amount of chemical
○ Carrying out a protein detection test and soil test
○ Noting disinfection temperatures on daily cycles
Carrying out a full ACT
who should carry out the weekly and daily checks on the WD
daily and weekly checks are carried out by on site personnel
what daily and weekly tests are carried out on sterilizers (vacuum capable)
○ Check the door seal for damage or contamination and clean
○ Verify the condition of the load carrier and chamber
○ Fill and drain water reservoirs on a daily basis
○ Run air leakage test
○ Run Bowie-Dick test cycle daily
○ Run air detector test
○ Record daily sterilisation temperatures
Carry out a full cycle ACT
who should carry out the weekly and daily checks on the sterilisers
on site personnel
why do we carry out these tests
We carry these tests out to verify functionality of the equipment on a day-to-day basis
what do we need to verify with regards to the components of the machines
We need to verify that the components of the machine are working correctly and that the instruments providing our temperature and pressure readings, are providing accurate values
what details should manufacturers provide regarding their equipment
Manufacturers can provide details of maintenance required for all their equipment
They can also provide costings for spare parts and consumables you will have to purchase and the approximate frequency of this
○ For instance, the suction component in a chemical pump will start to lose effectiveness
○ The manufacturer should inform you of an expected replacement date ie every 6 months or annually
This is essential for operational cost planning
what do we need to verify regarding the instruments on the machine
○ The temperature is reading correctly
○ The pressure is reading correctly
○ The chemicals are being dosed in the required volume
○ The stage timer is accurate and correct
○ The machine is heating correctly
○ That all necessary valves / components are operational
And that the safety devices and protocols of the equipment are in working order
who should carry out the checks on the instruments of the machine
- This work should be carried out by trained personnel only
○ You will need a competent person or test person to test and validate your equipment
They should also be able to prove they are qualified to carry the work out with certification
how often should a competent person test the WD
Quarterly visits
what is ACT
automatic control test
what information is on an ACT
water,
Type,
chemical volume
Stage times
temperature
what is the indicated temperature on ACT
the temperature from the machine temperature probe
what is the recorded temperature on ACT
a build-in independent temperature probe
what is the measure value produced form
The measured value is produced by putting probes in the machine and recording the cycle as it happen
what should be included in the report
Information for every test that is carried out is recorded in the report
* Calibration certificates for the equipment used to carry out the testing are included
* Certification from the competent person should also be included
what is the advantage of testing our equipment in this way
When we test our equipment in this way it gives us assurance that when we are processing instrumentation through our equipment, all necessary requirements have been met, so that our equipment is cleaned, disinfected and free from any viable micro-organisms
