1231 CE Online (1)

3. Rinse the surface and suction the channels with tap or sterile water. 4. Secure the endoscope in a transport container with a lid or a transport bag to keep it moist during transport. Check the manufacturer’s instructions before applying any enzymatic pre-treatment spray to the endoscopes. 5. Place the secured endoscope within an enclosed transport cart and ensure there are no instruments or equipment lying on top of the endoscope. 6. Transport the secured endoscope to the Central Sterile and Supply Department (CSSD) or designated reprocessing area as soon as possible for terminal reprocessing. Never use sterile saline or saline solution of any kind to clean an endoscope! Saline can damage the metal and epoxy that hold the lenses in place. Disassembly and Cleaning in CSSD Using the manufacturer’s instructions, disassemble any removable parts from the endoscope and place both the endoscope and accessories into an enzymatic detergent solution (see Figure 7). Ensure that the endoscope and accessories are completely submerged in the solution. Allow the endoscope and parts to soak in the solution for the prescribed time to loosen debris in the channels and on the endoscope’s surface. Do not use any abrasive cleaners or metal brushes to clean endoscopes. Never use an ultrasonic machine to clean an endoscope; the process will cause misalignment of the optic lens train or loosen the epoxy on the optical lens or the eyepiece. Figure 7 – Disassembly of a Rigid Endoscope

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