The module covers:
- Pre-cleaning inside the room
- How to do leak testing
- Actual wash and manual cleaning
- Automated endoscopic reprocessor
- Storage
Before you read this chapter make sure you have read parts of an endoscope and how to set up the endoscope.
- Pre-cleaning inside the room
- How to do leak testing
- Actual wash and manual cleaning
- Fill the sink with 15 litres of water ( temp less than 35 degrees Celsius) and add 60ml of Endozyme solution
- Soak the endoscope in the sink
- Take the sliding plate off the air/water port
- Clean the valves( suction and water/air valve) with the short brush ( purple here)- Put the valves back into the tea strainer and also the metal cap of the water port
- Next clean the control wheels and the tip of the scope and also the rubber water jet valve ( next to the water port)
- Clean the ports ( suction/biopsy/water/ additional ) with the long brush ( blue here) x 3 times
- Put the channel separator back again and flush all the channels with Endozyme mixed water of the sink
- Transfer to clean water sink and flush the port again with clean water
- Automated endoscope reprocessor
- Storage
- Blow air through the different channels to make it dry- Some of the trusts stopped doing it as prions thrive in dry environment. After cleaning an endoscope can follow either of these three paths:
- Used immediately or within three hours
- Stored in UV cupboard and then it can be used within next three days
- Hang the scope in a well ventilated cupboard removing all the valves, seals, soaking caps and angulation locks for storage

Picture16: Drying cupboard
Then it has to be disinfected again before use next morning by passing it through AER machine ( but decontamination i.e. manual cleaning is not needed)
With an Olympus scope

Picture17: The blue AW channel cleaning adapter, flushing catheter, enzymatic detergent ( First step)
- Then clean the outside of the scope with the soaked sponge in side the cleaning solution ( First step)
- Switch off the air pump.
- Dip the tip of the endoscope into the enzymatic detergent and the black plastic end of the rubber tube to the biopsy port and dip the other end in the same pot of enzymatic detergent.
- Then close the air/water port with the blue coloured AW channel cleaning adapter and switch on the air pump again. Some trusts keep the air pump on until cleaning is finished.
- The AW channel cleaning adapter continually blows air then through the air/water channel. It is dangerous to accidentally use this valves when doing a procedure as it continuously blows air in and can distend and cause rupture in colon. So that it does not happen it comes attached with a card. And when you depress that valve then it flushes the air/water channel with water.
- Keep pressing the suction button and that will suck the channel thoroughly with enzymatic cleaner. Then you should lift the insertion tube/tip from solution and suck air.
- Then repeat the procedure again but this time dip both scope tip and the flushing catheter in clean water pot. It is said that the fluid should percolate for a total of 30 seconds.
- Remember air/water channel and suction/biopsy channel are two different channel and are to be cleaned separately.

Picture18: The Electrical connector to be removed…
- Next remove the water/air catheter and suction catheter after switching off the pump.
- Take off the cover of the electric connector and immediately cover it with the water resistant soaking cap.
- In the next step of leak testing the leak testing catheter is connected to the air vent of the soaking cap.

Picture19: …And end is covered with the soaking cap ( the air venting port takes the leak testing catheter in the next step)
Article printed from Gastroenterology Education and CPD for trainees and specialists: https://www.gastrotraining.com