OPADEX – HIGH LEVEL INSTRUMENT DISINFECTANT- 5 MINS
Opadex is a high-level disinfectant for reprocessing heat-sensitive reusable semi-critical medical devices such as endoscopes, for which sterilization is not feasible. Opadex is intended for use in manual (bucket and tray) systems made from polypropylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyethylene, glass-lled polypropylene and/or polycarbonate plastics. Opadex may also be used in automated endoscope reprocessors. Activation is not required.
Disposing Procedure/Precautionary Note
Use in well-ventilated areas.
| Keep lids ON, soaking trays at all times except when instruments are removed or added to the solution.
Avoid direct skin contact. Wear surgical gloves while cleaning and disinfecting medical devices.
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Ortho pthalaldehyde Advantage over other Disinfectants
Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) has been accepted as a better, safer alternative to glutaraldehyde in most healthcare facilities. Cleared by the US FDA as a high-level disinfectant and emerged as a suitable replacement of glutaraldehyde for the disinfection of endoscopes. OPA has excellent microbicidal activity and superior mycobactericidal activity compared to glutaraldehyde, and has potent bactericidal and sporicidal activity. OPA has many advantages over glutaraldehyde, such as improved stability at varying pH ranges, lower inhalation exposure risk and a wider range of material compatibility. It requires no activation, is not a known irritant to the eyes and nasal passages and does not require exposure monitoring.
Orthopthalaldehyde over Glutaraldehyde Resistant Microbacterium
OPA has shown superior mycobactericidal activity (5-log10 reduction in 5 minutes) compared to glutaraldehyde. The mean time required to effect a 6-log10 reduction for M. bovis using 0.21% OPA was 6 minutes, compared to 32 minutes using 1.5% glutaraldehyde. Ortho-phthalaldehyde (0.55%) is a very good alternative to the widely used Glutaraldehyde (2%) for high-level disinfection of flexible endoscope.
