Background and Identification
Endoscopes must be tested for leaks prior to use in order to minimize infection risk and patient injury. Leak testing is an important part of the maintenance and repair of endoscopes. It is vital to ensure that fluids and other contaminants do not infiltrate endoscopes, which often contain fragile fiber optics and other components that can be damaged by fluid infiltration.
Endoscope leak testers come in manual and electronic varieties. Leak testers pump air into endoscopes, which can then be submerged in water to determine if any leaks exist. Some endoscope leak testers may include a dial indicating the pressure within an endoscope. A loss of pressure signals a leak.
Additional Information
- The Importance of Leak Testing Flexible Endoscopes (AORN Journal article)
- An Insider’s Guide to Better Scope Leak-Testing (Total Scope blog post)