Knowing how to best clean your ultrasound probe depends on several factors, including what is outlined in the ultrasound manufacturer's IFU, following regulatory guidelines, and understanding how the ultrasound probe is categorized based on the Spaulding Classification.
Definition | Risk | Example | Disinfection Level | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Critical | Device enters sterile tissue or vascular system | High | Probes used during surgical procedures* | Sterilization* |
Semi-Critical | Device contacts mucous membranes, non-intact skin, or high-risk patients | Intermediate | TEE Endovaginal, Endorectal probes | High-Level Disinfection (HLD) |
Non-Critical | Device contacts intact skin | Low | General Purpose Probes** | Low or Intermediate Disinfection |
If your probe has been classified as semi-critical, there are key steps in the process of disinfecting the device: