AAMI ST108 is a newly developed standard by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) focusing on the quality of water used for processing medical devices. It sets more stringent and comprehensive requirements for water quality in medical device reprocessing. Safeway Water Technology can assist in the understanding and adherence to these new policies.
Highlights
- Water Quality Requirements: AAMI ST108 establishes specific water quality parameters that must be met for medical device processing. This includes microbial levels, chemical contaminants, and general water quality indicators. This standard emphasizes the need for high-quality water to prevent microbial proliferation, corrosion, scaling, and other issues that can compromise patient safety.
- Performance Qualification: Facilities must perform regular testing to ensure water treatment systems consistently produce water that meets the standards. This involves regular monitoring and maintenance to verify system performance.
- Routine Monitoring: AAMI ST108 mandates regular testing of all water used in the washing, rinsing, and sterilization processes. This includes testing for about 18 different parameters. It also provides guidelines on how frequently these tests should be conducted. Safeway Water Technologies services many surgery centers and has systems and procedures in place to ensure that policies are adhered to.
- Risk Analysis and Team Responsibilities: The standard calls for the establishment of a team (or water treatment company) responsible for managing water quality. Responsibilities include routine monitoring, system maintenance, and implementing corrective actions as needed.
- Emergency Procedures: AAMI ST108 also addresses how to handle emergency situations. This would include service interruptions and boil water advisories, ensuring that medical device processing can continue safely during these events.
Implementing AAMI ST108 involves several steps. First, Auditing current water treatment systems for compliance. Educating your staff is paramount. You should update current policies and procedures. Potentially, an investment in new infrastructure to meet the enhanced water quality requirements could be necessary. This approach helps ensure medical devices are processed using water of the highest quality, improving patient safety and care outcomes. To have your equipment and policies & procedures evaluated contact Safeway Water Technologies.
