Cleaning Chemistry
This ingredient lowers surface tension so cleaning solution contacts surfaces more effectively.
What is a surfactant?
This enzyme breaks down protein soil.
What is protease?
This internal channel may require brushing and flushing according to the IFU.
What is a lumen?
This process uses applicable tests to add evidence of cleaning effectiveness. It does not establish sterility.
What is cleaning verification?
A cleaner breaks down blood proteins. Which enzyme is most directly associated with that action?
What is protease?
This ingredient helps fats disperse in a cleaning solution.
What is an emulsifier?
This enzyme acts on fats.
What is lipase?
This viewing tool helps inspect internal channels.
What is a borescope?
This test detects ATP-associated residue and commonly uses a light-reading instrument.
What is ATP testing or bioluminescence testing?
A technician claims that a protease detergent automatically disinfects an item. Explain the distinction.
What is protease breaks down protein soil, while a biocide has microbial-control activity? An enzymatic detergent is not automatically a disinfectant.
This ingredient binds minerals that may interfere with cleaning.
What is a chelating agent?
This enzyme acts on starch.
What is amylase?
This examination checks individual devices for residue, damage, and other visible problems.
What is inspection?
Sterile, noninfectious inflammation in the anterior eye can result from processing residues. Name the syndrome.
What is toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS)?
A device has residue remaining after inspection. Should it advance because a later sterilization cycle is planned?
What is no? It must be re-cleaned according to its IFU and reassessed; sterilization does not replace cleaning.
This substance has microbial-control activity; the term alone does not mean it removes soil.
What is a biocide?
A detergent has a pH near 7. Name its pH category.
What is a neutral-pH detergent?
This compatible product supports instrument function at the specified processing stage; it does not replace cleaning.
What is instrument lubricant?
An instrument looks clean outside. What two approaches help assess areas the eye may miss and add cleaning-effectiveness evidence?
What are inspection with appropriate tools, including a borescope when applicable, and cleaning verification? Neither alone proves sterility.
A formulation needs help with wetting, dispersing fats, and binding minerals. Match each function to its ingredient.
What are surfactant (wetting), emulsifier (dispersing fats), and chelating agent (binding minerals)?
This formulation contains enzymes that break down specific types of soil.
What is an enzymatic cleaner or detergent?
Name both pH categories: a cleaner below 7 and a detergent above 7.
What are acidic cleaner (below 7) and alkaline detergent (above 7)?
This approved product removes mineral buildup when permitted by the applicable IFU.
What is a descaling agent?
An ATP result is acceptable. Does it prove the device is sterile or directly count infectious organisms?
What is no? ATP testing provides residue-related cleaning information; it is not a sterility test or a direct infectious-organism count.
Different cleaning instructions are proposed for two similar-looking devices. What source determines the correct method for each?
What is each device manufacturer's IFU, together with applicable equipment and cleaning-product instructions?