According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dental practices must ensure that the water supply used during routine treatments meets safe drinking water standards.
Currently, the most common method for testing the safety of dental water pipes is the R2A laboratory test, which analyzes the level of bacterial contamination in the water.
Recently, the R2A testing process has added an early warning feature called “FASTRead” that can provide preliminary test results within 24 hours when the number of bacteria in the sample exceeds the EPA safety threshold.
Compared with the traditional R2A test, which takes 5 to 7 days to issue a final report, FASTRead can detect potential water quality problems earlier, preventing dental practices from noticing when the water pipes are contaminated in time.
The FASTRead feature is based on a study that found that many water samples that ultimately failed to meet the standards showed signs of bacterial overgrowth within the first 24 hours of testing.
Early warning information can help dental practices take corrective measures quickly to avoid compromising patient care and reduce the risk of using contaminated water.
Representatives from Solmetex and DentiSafe, who were involved in the development and implementation of the program, stressed that timely understanding of water quality is crucial to ensuring the safety of patients and medical staff.
Early intervention can not only prevent treatment delays, but also avoid the suspension of office use due to plumbing safety issues.
Currently, the FASTRead early warning function has been integrated into the Sterisil® R2A plumbing test process. When the sample test shows early signs of abnormality, the clinic will receive a direct phone notification and receive follow-up risk management guidance.
This innovation reflects the dental industry’s continued commitment to strengthening infection control and strict compliance with health and safety standards related to plumbing maintenance.
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