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Frequently
Asked Questions - Dental Sterilizer Monitoring Plan
"Why
doesn't UofL offer a monthly sterilizer monitoring plan?"
- The first reason is empirical as the both the ADA and the
CDC recommend only weekly sterilizer monitoring using Biological
Indicators and neither endorse monthly monitoring.
- An additional reason is based on our laboratory experience.
When a non-sterile sample is detected in the laboratory, a second
sample is often already in the mail, thus rapid follow-up and
confirmation is achieved.
"Why do I have to use Biological Indicators
(spore strips) instead of relying on the chemical indicators on
my bags and tape?"
- The color change of chemical indicators provide evidence
that the pack was exposed to heat but there is no indication
that the time and temperature required to kill bacterial spores
was achieved inside the pack. The only true test to verify
that your machine reached sterilizing conditions is to kill
bacterial spores, the most resistant life forms known. The
assumption is made that by killing spores the less resistant
organisms including viruses and vegetative bacterial cells
will also be killed. The spores used in the test samples are
not pathogenic and do not cause disease in animals including
humans.
"What does a non-sterile sample mean?"
- Approximately 40% of the practices we monitor have a non-sterile
sample sometime throughout the year and this is always a
cause for concern; however, roughly 70% of the non-sterile
samples are single, isolated events. These are nearly always
attributable to human error such as overloading the sterilizer
or cutting the time short or simply forgetting to put the
strip through a sterilization cycle and then sending it
to us --- yes, this does happen. Regardless, a single non-sterile
sample is a good time to remind the staff that sterilization
is critical to the practice and that the testing procedure
is rigorous.
- If we see two consecutive non-sterile samples, we recommend
that the unit be serviced immediately.
"Will I be notified of each sample received
and processed?"
- We work hard for our money and assume that you do, too;
thus, we try to be as efficient but effective as possible
to contain costs. To send out hundreds of post cards weekly
indicating sterile test results would just about double the
cost of the service. Instead, we work on the principle that
"No news is good news". By that we mean each sterile sample
is recorded in the database with cumulative, written reports
sent quarterly. However, when a sample is non-sterile we give
immediate feedback. You will be contacted ASAP by phone, FAX,
e-mail or whatever mechanism you prefer to let you know of
the non-sterile sample and a written report will also be mailed
to you.
"Why do you send samples, pre-addressed
envelopes and stamps in sets of 20?"
- Each sample lot has an expiration date and this assures
you that your samples will always be in date. When you have
only 2 or 3 samples remaining, give us a call at 1-800-554-8566
for more supplies. Your prepaid contract is for a year of
service regardless of the number of samples used. Most offices
use between 45 and 55 strips per unit per year depending
on vacations and machine retests following service calls.
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