Testing Time Frame
Question:I recently attended an endoscopy infection control workshop and it was stated that the GENCA guidelines for microbiological testing of scopes indicated that the scope must have been hanging on the shelf for 72 hrs prior to testing. Is this correct, as I have been unable to find this in the education workshop?
Answer:
The minimum time stated is 12 hours after processing-see Infection Control Guidelines page 69.
At the AGW conference it was suggested up to 16 hours was sufficient to get an adequate growth if there was any contamination present in the endoscope.