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Case Study 2020
WHat we did
Room A was in the biomedical research facility which had no current clinical use. There was no ventilation system operating in this room.
Room B, an endoscopy area, had been unable to be used due to having a ventilation rate that was too low to offer protection from aerosol generating procedures
Equipment Used
Air Sentry Mobile System AeroTrakTM laboratory grade particle counter 1μm particle generating tubes with visual smoke.
Staff Involved
Bio-medical scientist, Bio-medical physicist, Endoscopy surgeon (senior consultant), Endoscopy surgeon (consultant), Air Sentry representative, medical and surgical staff in support of list (4 patients).
Procedure
Initial assessment tests were made in Room A and the results logged. The Air Sentry system was then initiated and run on maximum for 30 minutes as per our recommendations. Continuous monitoring took place during this period. After 30 minutes the Air Sentry unit’s performance was dropped to normal running. After a successful assessment in the biomedical research facility the unit was moved to the endoscopy operating suite where a list of four patients was undertaken involving aerosol generating procedures.
Results
Room | Area | Vol | 0 min | 0 min | 0 min | 10 min | 10 min | 10 min | 30 min | 30 min | 30 min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.5 μm | 1 μm | > 1 μm | 0.5 μm | 1 μm | > 1 μm | 0.5 μm | 1 μm | > 1 μm | |||
A | 15 | 40 | 10m | 6m | 3m | 5m | 500k | 200k | 1.5m | 38k | 300 |
B | 18 | 54 | 12m | 7m | 5m | 4m | 655k | 375k | 1.88m | 50k | 500 |
ISO En14644: Part 1: 2015 Clean Room Classification
Room | 0.5 μm | 1 μm | 5 μm |
|---|---|---|---|
ISO 6 | 35,200 | 8,320 | 293 |
ISO 7 | 352,000 | 83,200 | 2,930 |
ISO 8 | 3,520,000 | 832,000 | 29,300 |
ISO 9 | 35,200,00 | 8,320,000 | 293,000 |
ISO En14644: Part 1: 2015 Clean Room Classification
Room | Area M2 | Vol M3 | Approx. Removal Time | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A | 15 | 40 | 3 Secs | Pulled down |
B | 18 | 54 | 2 Secs | Pulled down |
CONCLUSION
Initial testing in Room A showed exceptional performance by the Air Sentry unit. The system rapidly took the room air to being ultra clean ISO level 7 during use. Smoke testing using a 1μm oil showed rapid dispersal with the air being pulled down, away from faces. On this basis it was deemed safe to continue the testing with the endoscopy list in room B.
Room B testing was undertaken with four staff members and a patient present. A total of four patients were operated upon. It had not been deemed safe to undertake aerosol generating procedures previously in this area due to the pandemic.
The Air Sentry unit was operated for 30 minutes before the list commenced. The system took the room air to ultra clean rapidly and maintained this level during the procedure. Smoke dispersal testing was undertaken between patients. Results showed rapid dispersal and an air current that pulled the aerosol plume downwards, away from faces.
Two hundred Air Sentry® units across two hospital sites have since been implemented by this client as part of their coronavirus response. Areas covered include the emergency department, covid assessment wards, endoscopy, ENT, lung function department, respiratory wards, dental departments, care of the elderly and cardiology.