Welcome to SAL PQ & Testing, your partner in Performance Qualification (PQ) and Testing of decontamination, disinfection and sterilisation equipment.
There are many aspects and variables when we delve into maximising patient safety within a Health Service Organisation (HSO) or even a non-health facility. Infection prevention is the single most important aspect to consider maximising positive patient outcomes. Almost any medical procedure, involves the use of a medical device. Most of these devices are reusable and require reprocessing prior to use on the next patient. Looking at all the variables when reprocessing Reusable Medical Devices (RMD), it is challenging to be 100% effective in eliminating risk associated with patient-to-patient infection.
Modern day RMD are becoming increasingly complex to keep up with advancing medical techniques and procedures, reducing recovery time for patients. With a growing and ageing population, the turnaround time between patients is also decreasing. This adds pressure onto facilities and departments who are tasked to reprocess these medical devices in a timely manner. Some great advancements in RMD reprocessing equipment have also been made over the last couple of decades. As with the instruments they are reprocessing, decontamination, disinfection and sterilisation equipment have also become more complex.
Each equipment type has a given national and/or international standard applicable to the design, operation, maintenance and ongoing testing requirements. Upon installation of reprocessing equipment and annually thereafter, a Performance Qualification (PQ) is required to take place. This PQ process is designed to test the equipment to ensure they are performing as intended, independently from the equipment’s own verification sensors and internal data loggers. With strict adherence to each piece of equipment’s prescribed standard, expert annual Performance Qualification ensures that your cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation equipment are performing as required. Ultimately, this regular scrutiny aims to maximise positive outcomes and patient safety.
