Sterile & Clean Air Environments
Are your operating theatres independently validated in accordance with Health Technical Memorandum "Ventilation in Health Care Premises"?
Health technical memorandum (HTM) 2025 or 03 "Ventilation in Health Care Premises"
Broadland Group Ltd can provide a comprehensive validation service to ensure that both ultra clean and standard operating theatres comply with the relevant HTM guidance.
The tests conducted within an ultra clean theatre include:
- Filter integrity test to ensure no leaks are present
- Velocity mapping of the air under the canopy at 2m and 1m from the floor
- Pressure regime in theatre and adjacent rooms
- Entrainment test, to ensure wound site is not contaminated from air outside the canopy
- Noise, temperature and relative humidity readings
In addition to the tests above Broadland Group Limited is able to conduct microbiological sampling at the wound site during operations. A casella slit sampler is used, which is the only available unit to sample at 700 litres/min. Air is sampled through a sterilised length of tubing placed within 300mm of the wound site, this air then impacts on Petri dish which is then incubated and the total variable count made. In conjunction with this, observations are made during sampling of the occupancy of the room and practices that have the potential to increase the microbiological count near the wound. This feedback, together with results provide a valuable tool to identify ways to improve infection rates in theatre.Sterile & Clean Air
The tests conducted within a standard theatre include:
- Microbiological sampling
- Air volumes and pressures into theatre are measured within the ductwork of the air handling unit
- Dimensions of the theatre are measured
- Air change rates calculated
- Pressure regime in theatre and adjacent rooms
- Noise, temperature and relative humidity readings
- Validation testing is recommended to be conducted in each theatre at least annually
Broadland Group Ltd work along side hospital trusts, estate departments, infection control and canopy manufacturers to ensure theatre compliance with existing, and forthcoming legislation. In conjunction Broadland group is able to offer a number of other relevant services to hospitals including COSHH monitoring, LEV testing, Indoor air quality assessments and Asbestos services.
