Someone asked why cant you test your dialysis machines with the previous patient's bloodline or use the dummy.

I think you would want to use the line set up that you are about to use to test the machine. Some bloodlines have seams from production and won't test the same as the previous line set up. And test dummies should not be found on the treatnment floor.

HOUTECH YOU ARE RIGHT.However many clinics use the Ist shift lines after the patients blood has been returned to test the machine...

Houtech- Same manufacturer, same chamber design everytime so when calibration of level detector is done it should pass for every line by that manufacturer.
The dummy chambers used by some to save time in between treatments and still do test present a potential danger to patients as someone, somewhere, left the dummy in place during a treatment and the result was the patient getting air. Shouldn't happen but........ it has. I have heard from a friend in the New England area that a unit recently was cited by the state during a routine inspection for having used the dummy chamber because of the recognized potential for error.

Testing with the new line is doe to insure there are no defects in the venous chamber before you use it on a patient. Conversely if you place the new line after the tests, and there are severe defects you will receive an air detector alarm.

Dummy chambers should NEVER be allowed on the treatment floor. This can be written up as a condition if state finds them in use.

I agree completely with no dummy chambers on tx floor! However, I see no problem with using previous set-up for next test. If were talking about a Fres., no part of the test checks the extracorporeal circuit. The level detector test does check it's ability to measure leak/dimm values, but any flaw in new chamber would be a cosmetic flaw, or a leak that would be detected during priming. Small cracks would not be detected during test anyway, but would be seen under operating pressures.