Welcome to the Podiatry Arena forums

You are currently viewing our podiatry forum as a guest which gives you limited access to view all podiatry discussions and access our other features. By joining our free global community of Podiatrists and other interested foot health care professionals you will have access to post podiatry topics (answer and ask questions), communicate privately with other members, upload content, view attachments, receive a weekly email update of new discussions, access other special features. Registered users do not get displayed the advertisements in posted messages. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our global Podiatry community today!

  1. Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
Dismiss Notice
Have you liked us on Facebook to get our updates? Please do. Click here for our Facebook page.
Dismiss Notice
Do you get the weekly newsletter that Podiatry Arena sends out to update everybody? If not, click here to organise this.

Ultrasonic cleaning

Discussion in 'General Issues and Discussion Forum' started by Hull footman, Sep 24, 2007.

  1. Hull footman

    Hull footman Member


    Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    No matter whom I ask no one seems to be able to state how long it takes for instruments to be considered clean using an ultrasonic cleaner.The answeres usually are 'until they are clean' .It looks!!! clean almost as soon as you put them in the water .Can anyone give me a better answer. We assume, say , that we have a bloody /pus contaminated black's file .They are probably the most ground in with debris of unknown types removed from deep nail sulci etc. I know we can use Perasafe or similar also but 'When' can I consider the instrument to be contaminant free prior to autoclaving?
    Cheers
    Hull Footman
     
  2. podnManitoba

    podnManitoba Member

    Hello
    I would suggest you use a brush and clean the instrment , rinse and then place in ulstrasound..The answer to your question is based on the manufacturer's recommendations that are in your manual. That is the usual way to determine the length of time that is required to remove the debris that you could not with a brush.
     
  3. kitos

    kitos Active Member

    The NHS clinics I have worked in seem to use it for anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes.

    Personally I use 10 minutes and if there is hard debris on anything ~ Black's or dresser or bur's then I give them a good scrub with a nail brush which can then be autoclaved.

    My handbook (which is in German with incredibly unhelpful English translation) does not give any recommendations, just the temperature and time/power ranges.

    I find wrist watches come up beautifully in about 5 minutes :D

    Hope this helps
    Nick
     
  4. andymiles

    andymiles Active Member

    quote from the instruction manual of our ultrasonic cleaner (manufacturer - ultraware)

    "generally the time to decontaminate instruments will be less than 10 minutes, in fact instruments cleaned ultrasonically at regular intervals will be clean in probably less than 5 minutes"

    "the instruments can be said to be clean when stains are no longer visable, and contamination no longer appears in a stream from hinges and rivet pins etc."
     
  5. carol

    carol Active Member

    I find rings and necklaces come up beautifully shiney and sparkly after 5 minutes!
     
  6. Gillycam

    Gillycam Member

    We were told by the the sales rep that 5 minutes of ultrasonic cleaning was all that was required following manual scrubbing to remove large pieces of debris.
     
  7. taylorpet

    taylorpet Welcome New Poster

    You really need to run a test on the cleaner, as they vary a great deal.
    You put a test strip in to the machine, run it till the "stain" on the test strip disappears & that's how long you need.

    The concentration of the detergent and temperature of the bath also make a big difference.

    Ideally should run a test periodically to check they're working efficiently.
     
  8. In my Practice we use standard 12 min for each set of instruments and manual + ultra sound decontamination for any very soiled instruments. In a busy clinic or if 2 of us are working (or the ultra sound detergent gets cloudy and you can see the bits floating about in the solution!) then get rid of it. Clean out the bath and new solution as per manufacturers recomendation.
    Remember that if you use manual scrub the brush needs to be autoclaved too and replaced frequently
    Lesley Sutherland
     
  9. carol

    carol Active Member

    I Find An Old Battery Toothbrush Very Usefull For Getting Into Th Awquard Bits Before Ultra Sonic Cleaning. The Heads Don't Survive Autoclaving Too Often But If Your Recycling Old Ones Its Not That Important. I Too Use 12 Minutes As Standard And Change The Solution Daily (roughly After 8-10 Uses)
     
  10. Beverly Caine

    Beverly Caine Welcome New Poster

    Hi
    I have worked as a Advanced Nail Tech that has been trained and work for a Podiatry Office. So here is the rule's we follow to clean Podiatry metal tools. Use a small scrub brush with soap and hot water. After all tools are hand washed and rinced place in Bio sonic ultrasonic with low foam MetriCide for a 10 min setting. After cycle is done remove basket and rinse with cold water. Wearing gloves remove tools and place on a drying rack to dry. when dry place tools in a Autoclave and set for 15 min for unpacked tools but if tools are packed in pouch that shows different color when sanitized 25 min. Stay Safe and Healthy!
    In Health Beverly Caine
     
Loading...

Share This Page