NEW GUIDELINE ON TESTING OPERATING THEATRES IN THE NETHERLANDS

Authors:

Frans W. Saurwalt

Keywords:

Operating Theatres, Instrument lay-up room, Segregation test, Monitoring, Operating Rooms, Hospital, Unidirectional Airflow, VCCN, Room, Testing, Test Method

Abstract:

Operating theatres in the Netherlands are commonly based upon the use of Uni Directional Airflow in the middle of the room, in order to protect the patient, operating staff and the instrument tables. From the early days on these UDF systems have been qualified on design parameters and were tested only by air cleanliness classification by particles, at rest. As this is method not totally satisfactory, within the VCCN, a project group evaluated various methods of testing and came to a new approach. The test principle based on segregation test is proposed for adoption in the ISO-14644-3. The method has been tested and improved and is proven to be helpful in assessing operating rooms and instrument lay-up rooms. The ultimate test is the cleanliness during actual surgery. A methodology to monitor is currently under development and practical evaluation is on its way.

Article:

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