The 2018 Excellence in Surgical Products Awards will be presented in the November/December issue of Surgical Products. Leading up to the publication of that issue, nominees will be featured on the Surgical Products website.
Category: Infection Control
Product description and innovation synopsis:
The 3M Attest Auto-reader 490 reads both steam and vaporized hydrogen peroxide Attest biological indicators (BIs) in any incubation well in just 24 minutes. The user-friendly interface provides clear positive (+) or negative (-) BI results on an LCD display, clearly identifying a result. These innovations allow sterile processing departments to simplify, standardize and streamline workflow processes to help ensure every instrument is safe for patient use and help keep surgeries on schedule. The dual capability is also available to current 3M customers through a software upgrade to existing Attest Auto-reader models 490 and 490H at no extra charge.
(Image credit: 3M)
What sets this product apart from others available in the industry?
Historically, sterile processing departments, in order to get a BI readout, needed separate technology for steam and vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VH2O2) cycles. Now central sterile professionals can place either a steam or VH2O2 BI in any of the new 3M Attest Auto-reader 490’s wells to get a readout in just 24 minutes. Not only does the dual auto-reading capability enable the sterile processing department to streamline and standardize its workflow, but the 24-minute readout makes every load monitoring a reality. Sterile processing departments can keep pace with OR scheduling demands, without sacrificing the quality of care.
How does this product benefit the surgical team and aid in better outcomes?
Sterilization processes are intricate and require focused attention. Additionally, consistent processes may not be applied from load to load, increasing the chance of error. The new 3M Attest Auto-reader 490 streamlines processes and staff training by allowing sterile processing departments to use the same auto-reader to test both steam and VH202 BIs in any incubation well. This helps in the fight against infection by giving the sterile processing department the speed it needs to know whether the sterilization process was successful before releasing instruments for use, helping to increase the surgical team’s confidence they’re delivering the level of safety patients deserve.
