Our dialysis unit is changing over from a formaldehyde & Bleach reuse program to a paracetic acid based program. My question to any dialysis clinic or individuals out there with experience with paracetic acid is how often is should you test the potency of paracetic acid. Should I test every dialyzer or a batch, what is the industry doing? I know the textbook answer but I want to know what is actually happening in clinics? Thank you in advance for all your help. I would also like to talk over the phone if possible please leave a contact number if possible.

Funny you would ask, we're in the midst of changing from bleach/formaldehyde to peracetic acid too!
Several of our clinics in this area have been using peracetic acid for many years. What we do is, in reuse room, check one dialyzer per shift per machine for peracetic potency. If one fails, reuse calls for service, then goes back and checks all dialyzers processed that day and reprocesses those that fail the potency test.
On the floor, the patient care personel check every dialyzer for peracetic acid potency before set-up. Those that fail are discarded.
Diluted peracetic acid and processed dialyzers are used within seven days. All checks are documented.
Hope this helps!

Thank you for your help.I do have a few more questions. What kind of reuse machine do you use and What are the percentage of dialyzers that fail the potency test? How are you checking for potency? strips, kits? What do you mean "reuse calls for service"

Every single dialyzer should be tested for the presence of peracetic acid before patient use. We perform this test at the time of priming the dialyzer and bloolines.

You definitely have to check each dialyzer for presence of paracetic acid (renalin) prior to set up and for residual after priming. This should be done and documented by the nursing staff. The reuse staff should check the first and last dialyzer of each shift of dialyzers that have been reprocessed. This should also be documented somewhere in your reuse quality control paperwork. In my experience very few dialyzers should fail presence test, if the equipment is properly maintained. Another difference between the two will be the use of vented caps. the peroxide in the paracetic acid will react with protein in the dialyzer and will vent off some paracetic acid (if you don't use one vented dialysate port cap it could shoot the cap across the room it's messy but cool). Make sure your reuse staff inspect the dialyzer by looking at it to make sure it is at least 3/4 full of paracetic acid. They should reprocess anything that is less than 3/4 full on the dialysate or blood chambers. Hope this info helps.

If Minntech is the one setting up your reuse program they will give you all the info you need about the set up. I'm sure if you call them they may even send you some info about the program beforehand. Talk with Wayne Carlson he is very informative just look up the website and call the 1-800 number. Hope this helps....