New EPA Ethylene Oxide Ruling

[chipmoore]

You should read the EPA ruling of 12/28/07

http://www.epa.gov/EPA-AIR/2007/December/Day-28/a25233.htm

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/2007/December/Day-28/a25233.pdf

Chip Moore
Rochester, NY
Retired but involved

[David Freeman]

Thanks Chip.
Am I the only one having difficulty living without ethylene oxide? The "solutions" out there really aren't and have limitations that are unacceptable.

[libra]

I happen to be one hospital which hasn't gotten rid of ETO yet. That being said, we do have 3 Sterrads also. I think people are too quick to jump on the bandwagon because of the quick turnaround time. People are so worried about ETO and what if there is a leak? With cannisters and safety features in the chamber not being able to open it if there is any in the chamber. I worry more about Sterrad being relatively new and feel there will be same precautions as in venting, etc. in the future. Just my 2 cents. thanks for letting me vent.:eek:

[jrc]

Here in Wisconsin, we have been living with requirements more stringent than this for 20 years. :)

We can't live without our ETO, either. There are certain items we have no other means of sterilizing. Yes, we have plasma, but it can't do everything, and it is very expensive to operate. I don't like the long turnaround, but the rapid BI has greatly improved our level of quality assurance.

[Rod Brueggeman]

I agree with libra - awhile back I submitted a thread with concerns about biological read times for Plasma. Vendors come in promoting Plasma technology as the new coming but when you ask them about the BI read times the back pedal starts.

I still have a difficult time understanding how some healthcare facilities allow the release of Plasma loads without having final readout results available. Why the double standards with releasing product. Why is it so stringent to release steam yet so loose to release Plasma? Are we saying it is ok to trust this new sterilization technology and release loads on completion and then react to potential positive BI results 48 hours later? It seems like an advance in technology but a setback in quality control/assurance.

[wperez]

I believe that since we do not sterrad implants the retrictions on relaese are minimal. I also feel there is a double standard. I am told that since our policy covers early relase that covers us as well as a event report signed by the surgeon that he refused to wait for the final biological. we also increased the number of instrument sets for sterrad. I hope this information helps.