BIOtAK Ltd - Proof of Concept of PEROXItAK and STEAMtAK

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In hospitals, surgical instruments are processed for reuse in the Sterile Services Dept (SSD).After being washed and disinfected, the instruments are sterilised in a hydrogen peroxideplasma or steam device. The ability to check that the sterilisation process is functioningproperly ensures that pathogen levels have been reduced to a sufficient level so as not totransmit disease to the following patient.BIOtAK is developing two devices, PEROXItAK and STEAMtAK, to monitor sterilisationprocesses which use hydrogen peroxide and steam respectively as the sterilant. The keyobjective of this project is to perform specialist testing of these products to obtain proof ofconcept. These products use innovative enzyme based technology that provides an objective,unambiguous, rapid and quantifiable result which is a first in this sector. Existing tests canachieve at best only one or two of these capabilities at a time. PEROXItAK and STEAMtAKwould make up 2 distinct work packages.The aims of these projects are to use a test rig to evaluate the potential of PEROXItAK tomonitor hydrogen peroxide based sterilisation processes. In addition this package will involvethe formulation of test devices to ensure they are suitable for use for this application. ForSTEAMtAK the aim is to evaluate possible enzyme formulations that can monitor the steamsterilisation process. Testing will determine if there is remaining enzyme activity at 140°C dryheat after 30 minutes as required by the chemical indicator standards, and also assess in thepresence of saturated steam.The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has been carrying out research on enzymes calledthermostable Kinases which are very robust enzymes. Thermostable Adenylate Kinase (tAK)has been developed by BIOtAK as a wash process indicator in hospitals for surgicalinstruments. Now BIOtAK wishes to assess the application of this enzyme technology tomonitor sterilisation processes.