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This project was undertaken in efforts to better understand the processes that occur in the CCSD field. In this case the subject being Tamper evident gas plasma locks and the change that occurs when exposed to florescent light. This will help us in answering the question, does the result of these lock indicators changing affect the sterility of the instrumentation in these containers? A more impactful question would be is there a shorter sterility life for hydrogen peroxide gas plasma items based on the ? Sterrad low temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization process. This process has five phases. I. Vacuum Phase: During this phase the chamber is evacuated reducing the integral pressure in preparation for the process to come. II. Injection Phase: A measured amount of liquid peroxide is injected into the chamber. III. Diffusion Phase: The hydrogen peroxide permeates the chamber exposing all load contents to the vapor cloud. At the end of this phase the chamber pressure is reduced. IV. Plasma Phase: An electromagnetic field is created the hydrogen peroxide vapor breaks apart and a cloud consisting of ultraviolet light. V. Vent Phase: Filtered air is drawn into the chamber to equalize the pressure so the door can be open This is the first day of the project. This Tamper evident lock has been put through hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization, as a result the chemical indicator has changed from pink to blue. After the first week of exposure to florescent light there is a slight change in the blue indicator. There is evidence of fading of the blue chemical indicator, similar to white cracks. After the third week of exposure to florescent light there is further color change. On the chemical indicator the surface has become more white than blue. Looking at the two Tamper evident locks, the lock on the left is a lock that has actually been on the self in sterile storage area of a sterile processing department for a month and on the right is the tested lock that has been placed under the florescent light for a month. Tamper evident lock that has been in sterile storage. Tamper evident lock after being exposed to florescent light This project was created based on incidents that occurred questioning the sterility of hydrogen peroxide gas plasma processed surgical instrumentation. From this project I hope to bring about awareness to this issue to CSSD circles including those facilities that have questions to why this change occurs. This project also hopes to let those facilities that are isolated and are the first to use gas plasma sterilization in their region know that they are not alone in dealing with this problem. This test was performed by placing a tamper evident gas plasma lock under a florescent light to measure the change in color of the indicator. Measuring the color change weekly and taking snap shots to record the change taking place. After each week it was noted that a slight change had taken place. The reaction observed was that the blue chemical change of the tamper evident gas plasma lock that was produced during exposure to hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization had began to slowly change color. This color change was from a bright blue to a pale white color. This project took approximately thirty days in which this lock had constant exposure to the florescent light. The results attained from this project are that the original chemical reaction made by the lock is not constant and is not absolute. There are further changes that occur to this indicator and other factors are yet to be found out. In other tests done in conjunction with this, a lock was also placed in direct sunlight and another in an area with no exposure to light. Based on the findings of these test including the one shown here the conclusion is that florescent light does play a part in the change of color in tamper evident gas plasma locks. The question still remains, if after such a short period of time when these locks change color are the contents of these containers still sterile or should they still be used. Author: Deannard Esnard CRCST,CIS,CHL,SSGB Sterileprocessing@instagram After the second week there are further white blemishes on the chemical indicator.
