Last week, we discussed the value of utilizing high purity RO water for cleaning and rinsing. This week, we are faced with a continuing problem of residue remaining on surgical devices. I’ve been in this industry for over thirty years and only recently heard about the frequency of white powder residue on containers and even on single use wrap after sterilization...

According to the CDC, public water is regulated but can sometimes get contaminated. With water shortages in the West, depleting reservoirs, and flooding here in the Northeast from too much rain and clogged sewer pipes, we find that we not only have to monitor the water quality in our manufacturing facility, but also keep an eye on the drains in our neighborhood...

A container is a rigid reusable packaging system that is validated to maintain sterility until it is used. In the past, we never heard of white powder, cancelled STERRAD cycles, or even massive surface discoloration. And no, we do not agree that white powder is okay nor that you can continue to use a container with surface degradation...

At Case Medical we create innovative products that can meet your needs for instrument processing, asset management, sterilization, organization, and transport. We solve problems you identify by developing products to meet your needs...

Residue is material that remains after cleaning, like grease left over on a frying pan. It can also be a liquid residue that’s left over at the bottom of a bottle, pot, or can, and even moisture remaining at the base of a sterilization container or tray after sterilization. When it comes to removal of moisture in a container or sterilized tray this is easy to fix...

Recently, the FDA conducted a surprise audit of Case Medical. The FDA has the right to do this whenever they want, to any FDA regulated facility, and give no notice beforehand. While conducting the audit, the FDA may ask for any information that they want, from whatever date they want, and it is up to the organization being audited to produce that information to show they are in compliance with FDA regulations...

This week is Sterile Processing Week during which we celebrate the committed specialists that fill Sterile Processing departments and make a difference in patient care. And where we at Case Medical continue to develop only the safest, quality products for instrument processing and celebrate the profession in one of the most meaningful ways through quality continuing education...

Recently, I read a book about Hedy Lamarr, born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler, an Austro-Hungarian-born American actress and inventor. She was a film star during Hollywood's Golden Age. In 1942, she received a patent with composer George Antheil for a “frequency hopping, spread-spectrum communication system” designed to make radio-guided torpedoes harder to detect or jam during World War II. She never received a dollar for her invention, which was dismissed by the military because they couldn’t accept the intelligence of a woman...

Monday, one of our sales reps reported a wash indicator failure at a local facility currently using our cleaners and our Case Soil indicator. We knew it was an opportunity to solve a problem and possibly improve their process. The wash indicator is supposed to fail when something in the wash sequence isn’t right. It’s your first alert that something is wrong...

Shorter cycles, less rinses have been discussed for some time at AAMI working groups and amongst healthcare professionals. Most agree that adequate contact time and rinsing is good practice for manual and automated processes. Detergents lift but rinsing removes the soil. Now manufacturers of new washer/disinfectors have gone even further by promoting cycles preset in their new machines which eliminate rinse steps and rinse times