AAAAI guidance on cleaning flexible nasal endoscopes

The following is from the AAAAI Work Group Report: Nasal and Sinus Endoscopy... originally published in 2006.

"Cleaning of the endoscope is accomplished easily. Initially a leakage test should be performed to ensure that the integrity of the instrument has not been compromised and will not be damaged in the cleaning process. The instrument is then rinsed to remove any gross debris and very gently wiped down to prevent damaging the instrument. The instrument is then placed in an enzymatic cleaner (e.g. Endozime, Ruhoff, Mineola, NY or Enzol, Johnson & Johnson, Irvine) for the recommended time (usually 10 minutes). The instrument is once again rinsed and gently wiped down. It is then placed in glutaraldehyde (e.g. Cidex, Metricide) or a related product, ortho-phthalaldehyde (e.g. CidexOPA) following the manufacturer’s suggestions for duration of sterilization. For Cidex-OPA, the time required is 10 minutes. Thereafter, the endoscope must be thoroughly rinsed to remove all traces of the microbicide and then dried. A wall mounted cleaning stand can be used to simplify the process (EndoCaddy, Aztec Medical Products, Williamsburg, Virginia). If an endoscope with a channel is used, more extensive cleaning is required."

https://www.aaaai.org/Aaaai/media/Media-Library-PDFs/Allergist%20Resources/Statements%20and%20Practice%20Parameters/Nasal-and-sinus-endoscopy-2006.pdf

There is also more current information here: https://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/recommendations/flexible-endoscope-reprocessing.html

Eric Macy, MD, MS, FAAAAI