Nelson Laboratories and Healthmark Industries today announced the introduction of an Endoscope Sampling Kit for the random testing of duodenoscopes in compliance with CDC guidelines.

Endoscope manufacturers, regulatory bodies and healthcare facilities are increasingly concerned about the spread of communicable diseases, including clinically relevant microorganisms, on reprocessed medical devices.

Healthmark Industries and Nelson Laboratories have partnered to create an endoscope surveillance sampling kit for the purpose of monitoring and reporting objective results from clinical scopes.

Everything necessary to collect and send a sample from an endoscope for testing will be provided in the kit offered by Healthmark. The sample will be sent to Nelson Labs to test for the presence of any microorganisms. If present, the organisms will be identified and quantified.

The Endoscope Sampling Kit will be used as proficiency assessment for healthcare practices and not as a safety assessment for the reprocessed scope (not a "fitness for use" test). This surveillance assessment is important to help the clinical user determine if their scope is safe for use, requires additional reprocessing, requires additional testing or should be quarantined.

The kit and related tests are intended as another help to assess the adequacy of the healthcare facility scope reprocessing.

The Kit will be featured at the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates Convention beginning this Sunday, May 22nd in Seattle. Visit booth #125 for a demonstration and to learn more.