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Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust adopts ProReveal...

Synoptics Health, a manufacturer of innovative digital imaging systems for healthcare applications, has announced that its ProReveal test to accurately detect proteins on surgical instruments is being used at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, one of the UK’s largest NHS run Sterile Services Departments (SSDs).

ProReveal is being used to check the washer-disinfection process maintains its cleaning standards and is helping to prevent patients at this hospital Trust from accidentally contracting infections such as vCJD (Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease) from protein contaminated surgical instruments.

The SSD at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the first in the UK to adopt the highly sensitive ProReveal in-situ fluorescence test to quantify how much protein remains on surgical instruments after they have been decontaminated. SSD personnel at the hospital test how well their washer-disinfection equipment has performed using the ProReveal (the only commercial in-situ protein detection test currently available that complies with new UK Department of Health [DoH] guidelines) to directly measure proteins on instrument surfaces which cannot be detected by eye or with a swab test. This is making checking the efficacy of the decontamination process more accurate.

Alison Gee, sterile services and stores manager at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, explained: “The Department of Health guidance has changed and SSDs are expected to move to in situ testing for residual protein on surgical instruments.  This is particularly important for instruments which are likely to have been in contact with tissue potentially harbouring prions that could cause infections such as vCJD. This change in regulations has actually allowed us to more easily access the funding to purchase and install a ProReveal in our department.”

Alison continued: “Since using ProReveal in the past year, we have had very good results, but we have found that a few instruments sometimes have slightly more than the target of five micrograms of protein on them, due to factors such as positioning in the washer-disinfector.  We have also identified one type of instrument that we cannot clean adequately for re-use which is therefore being replaced. Neither of these problems were identified using swab testing. This has prompted us to re-train our staff on how to load our machines correctly and to contact the instrument manufacturer to discuss decontamination processes for their products.

“Additionally, when we had an issue with our water softener, we used the ProReveal and it assured us that the water quality had not affected the decontamination process and the surgical instruments were safe to use. This meant we didn’t have to do routine manual pre-cleaning on everything, so we avoided having an operational backlog and cancelling patients’ surgery. We are very pleased to have the ProReveal as it is assuring us that the surgical instruments we are returning to be used on patients are safe and fit for purpose.”

Guy Fiddian, of Synoptics Health, concluded: “We’re delighted that one of the UK’s largest NHS Sterile Services Departments is implementing the ProReveal as part of its modern approach to quality control of its decontamination process. Nottingham is one of the first NHS trusts in England to install a ProReveal and its SSD staff’s willingness to embrace using in-situ testing of reprocessed surgical instruments is a great testament to the fact that this excellent trust’s ethos of 'working together to be the best for patients' is at the heart of its care.”

For Further Information Contact:

Jayne Arthur, Synoptics Health, Beacon House, Nuffield Road, Cambridge, CB4 1TF, UK.

Tel: +44(0) 1223-727114 Fax +44 (0) 1223-727101

Email: jayne.arthur@synopticshealth.com Web: www.synopticshealth.com

Twitter: @ProReveal

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Upcoming Events

Central Sterilising Club - Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Crowne Plaza at Gerrard’s Cross
15th April 2024 – 16th April 2024

DECON UK 2024

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
17th April 2024

Infection Prevention & Control

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
23rd - 24th April 2024

Theatres & Decontamination Conference 2024

Coventry Building Society Arena
16th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Birmingham

Millennium Point, Birmingham
18th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Exeter

University of Exeter
22nd June 2024

Access the latest issue of Clinical Services Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Clinical Services Journal app from your device's App store

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