Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP) announced it has received FDA clearance for its 30-minute STERRAD VELOCITY Biological Indicator (BI) System. By reducing the time it takes to get results, from several hours to 30 minutes, this new enhancement to the company’s complete sterilization ecosystem gives hospitals the opportunity to raise their standard of care by running a BI in every cycle, every day.
Ensuring that all surgical devices are properly sterilized is one way healthcare workers can help reduce the incidences of healthcare-aquired infections (HAIs). HAIs have a devastating personal and economic impact, claiming the lives of 99,000 people in the U.S. each year at a cost of up to $45 billion. BIs help to prevent HAIs by providing assurance that instruments used on patients are sterilized. Hospital sterilization professionals will now be able to deliver instruments to the operating room faster and with greater peace of mind.
“With a significantly shorter wait time, STERRAD VELOCITY reduces the risk of hospital sterilization departments releasing instruments prior to BI confirmation,” says Amy Smith, Vice President, ASP Global Marketing. “Now they will finally be able to know with certainty that proper sterilization conditions have been achieved before the instruments are used in patients.”
(Image credit: Advanced Sterilization Products)
Earlier this year, ASP enhanced its overall sterilization solution with the full launch of STERRAD Systems with ALLClear Technology and ASP ACCESS, a smart information sharing technology. STERRAD VELOCITY is the only BI reader that can automatically communicate BI information to STERRAD Systems, ITS and hospital networks, minimizing the need for manual documentation and reducing the potential for human error.
“As the only company that offers an integrated, end-to-end sterilization solution, ASP is in a unique position to help customers elevate patient safety while also maximizing compliance and efficiency in their daily routine,” says Smith. “Our complete ecosystem is designed to work together to provide the most accurate results. This ensures the lives of patients are better protected at a time when they are already vulnerable – when they are in hospitals and undergoing potentially life-changing procedures.”
