How To: Safely Clean Organic Debris from Devices

Q: We need a detergent to clean organic debris and deactivate pathogens on medical devices, which is not corrosive.  What would work for us?  The devices include electronics parts and sensors.

A: For removal of biologic and organic debris and matter in medical devices, we first recommend Tergazyme® Enzyme-Active Powdered Detergent

If a low foaming detergent is needed, we would recommend the Detojet® Low Foaming Liquid Detergent or Alcojet® Low Foaming Powdered Detergent depending on the preference for liquid  concentrate or powder, respectively.  Detojet is particularly useful if sensitive plastics are in play. 

Regarding deactivation…. Cleaners like Tergazyme detergent (with protein enzymes) and Detojet detergent is not intended to replace a bleach step for disinfection/deactivation purposes but is part of the necessary step to clean prior to disinfection/deactivation. 

Based on the specific cleaning conditions and mechanisms, setup, application, time, temperature, etc. you may ultimately find a bleach step is not needed.  But that is quite case dependent.

We would recommend, as a best practice, based on regulations from the US EPA and FDA, as well as the WHO, that cleaning and disinfection be two separate steps.  Here are several articles which elaborate on both the bleach and cleaning/disinfection matter.

• Bleach and Detojet?
• Bleach with Detergents for Disinfection?
• Clean Before Sterilization (Disinfection)