biological testing of flash sterilizers

[anna m grayson]

Do any of the hospitals you all work in have the OR Nursing assistants, orderlies, OR attendants, ( not sure of the many differnent titles), running the biological testing of the flash sterilizers?
I'm not comfortable knowing that non-licensed personnel, or trained scrub technicians are performing this function. Especially without proper training.
Who does the testing of the flash sterilizers in your hospitals?
Any information will really be appreciated.
Thanks:)

[sonny1388]

Our C.S. technicians are in charge of running the biologicals for all of our sterilizers. The person on the morning shift comes in before the cases start, runs warm ups and tests on all of the machines. I think that anyone with the proper training could handle the task, but I feel much more comfortable with this set-up.

[Nannette Braley]

Whether an employee is licensed or not is not the issue. Any person running biological tests should be properly trained - that is the key. Being licensed does not make it any different if you are not correctly trained. We have aids in the OR who do the testing and CS techs in SPD. Training is the key, you should have written procedures to follow, competencies completed and all verified by a return demonstration. Who do you have do them?

[anna m grayson]

Thank you for your input. I agree with proper training and competency testing the OR assistants can be responsible for biological testing.
My use of Non-licensed personnel was not intended to imply anything negative. And I do agree, licensed or not- training is the key.