OREANDA-NEWS. Scientific Digital Imaging plc (AIM: SDI, "SDI" or the "Company") the AIM quoted group focused on the application of digital imaging technology for use in life sciences, healthcare, astronomy, and art conservation, welcomes the new guidelines from the UK Department of Health indicating the upper limit of acceptable protein contamination on surgical instruments after processing. Information issued in an updated version of the guidance, to minimise transmission risk of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) in healthcare settings*, recommends that the upper limit of acceptable protein contamination after processing to be 5µg BSA equivalent per instrument side, with a lower level necessary for neurosurgical instruments. In addition evidence indicates that the Ninhydrin swab kits, which are commonly used for the testing of cleaned instruments, have shown to be insensitive. Furthermore, proteins are poorly desorbed from instruments by swabbing.

Ken Ford, Chairman of SDI commented: 

"We welcome the guidance from the Department of Health on the acceptable level of protein remaining on surgical instruments as well as the evidence on the Ninhydrin swabbing. We have been waiting for some time for guidance on what is a safe and acceptable level of residual protein that can remain on surgical instruments after decontamination and ProReveal, our highly sensitive fluorescence-based patented protein detection test, is the only marketed product of which we are aware that can adhere to these stringent guidelines. It allows the testing of the whole instrument for protein, rather than just a small, swabbed area, and will be invaluable to the Sterile Services Departments in hospitals throughout the UK and the broader market."

ProReveal is a highly sensitive fluorescence-based patented protein detection test for checking the presence of residual protein on surgical instruments after going through a washer disinfector process. This cost-effective test (conforms to BS EN ISO 15883-1) delivers objective, visual and measurable results, removing any doubt as to whether the washing decontamination process has left instruments demonstrably clean. Using the powerful diagnostic tools of ProReveal, users can track the performance of their washer disinfector processes and to see whether there are any changes in trends.

Taking less than 5 minutes to carry out, ProReveal generates results as a visual display of the presence (or absence) of any protein and these results can be documented and archived as proof of process cleanliness. Promoting this alternative detection method has required a re-education process in Sterile Services Departments (SSDs) in hospitals, where the system is most applicable.