Improving Your Education Facility’s Cleaning Processes Keeping a school clean is no easy task. No matter the size, education level, or building infrastructure, every education facility’s cleaning team faces challenges in keeping their school in tip-top shape. However, overcoming these hurdles is critical, as effective cleaning processes ensure the safety and wellbeing of a school’s staff and students. In this article, we’ll explore the ways that advanced technology solutions can help improve your education facility’s cleaning processes. We’ll also discuss the benefits of incorporating them into your operations. The Importance of School Sanitation Establishing rigorous cleaning protocols for an educational institution is more than just maintaining an inviting, sanitary, and comfortable environment. It’s also fundamental for ensuring the safety, health, and wellbeing of the building’s occupants while at school. Effective cleaning plans are essential to: Reduce Transmission of Disease: School environments can be hotspots for bacteria and viruses due to the high-volume traffic flows, shared facilities, and frequent physical contact. Regular and effective cleaning protocols can significantly reduce the spread of bacteria and pathogens such as the flu, common cold, and COVID-19. Improve Learning Environment: Maintaining a clean and well cared for school creates a more conducive learning environment. Good classroom hygiene supports better learning by minimizing distractions, reducing trash and unpleasant odors, and helps students and teachers feel more at ease in the classroom. Comply with Health and Safety Regulations: Schools have a legal and ethical responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment for their students and staff. In many jurisdictions, they must comply with specific health and safety regulations. For this reason, stringent cleaning processes that are backed by validation are essential. Challenges of Education Facility Cleaning While every educational institution has their own set of unique cleaning challenges, there are some universal issues all maintenance teams likely encounter. 5 of these are detailed below. Traffic Volume One major challenge for maintenance teams is traffic volume. The high numbers of people, including students, staff, and visitors, moving through the school can make it difficult to keep spaces clean and sanitary at all times. This high footfall significantly contributes to the spread of dirt and pathogens, making it even more difficult to identify and remove contaminants. Staffing Issues Staffing issues pose significant challenges. Cleaning tasks are labor-intensive and often require specialized knowledge for effective disinfection. Staff shortages or undertrained staff can therefore impact the quality and consistency of your campus cleaning efforts. Cleaning Product Safety The use of safe and effective cleaning products is another concern for schools. Some products, while effective, may contain harmful chemicals that pose health risks to students and staff or even damage school property. Outdated Validation Methods Many schools still rely on visual inspection or low-accuracy methods like ATP surface testing to validate cleaning. These methods do not provide a precise measure of cleanliness, leading to areas that are not adequately cleaned and disinfected. Curious to learn more about advanced cleaning validation methods? Read our blog: Cleaning Verification vs. Validation What is Cleaning Validation? What is Precision Cleaning? Difficulty Identifying Contaminants Traditional cleaning methods often overlook areas of high contamination due to lack of visibility. For instance, high-touch surfaces like door handles may harbor a high concentration of pathogens. Without trustworthy identification methods, these areas may not be cleaned as thoroughly as they should be. How Technology Can Help You Overcome School Cleaning Challenges Educators and students need safe, comfortable, and clean environments to do their best work. As school populations increase, and greater demand is being placed on professional cleaning services to manage pathogens and contaminants, innovative solutions are needed. Fortunately, technology has stepped up. Below are three ways technology is helping cleaning professionals rise to the challenge. Surface Imaging Technology Surface imaging technology allows cleaning teams to visually identify the presence of surface contaminants. It relies on a special type of camera that cleaning teams simply attach to a tablet device. To determine if a surface is clean or contaminated, a picture of the surface is taken and instantly uploaded to a software program. The software analyzes the image and creates an image that shows precisely where biological contaminants are present. By visually identifying biological material on a surface, cleaners can manage biohazard risks more effectively, and in less time. This real-time feedback helps janitorial teams identify and resolve contamination issues immediately, ensuring a safer environment for students and staff. Cloud-Based Validation Software Cloud technology is helping school maintenance teams monitor and track both their cleaning efforts and facility maintenancen more easily and efficiently. It’s also helping to reduce cleaning supply usage, decrease time spent cleaning, and identify what areas are in need of attention most. With cloud-based cleaning validation software, things like cleaning tasks, employee hours, and supply usages can be tracked in real-time. This helps facility managers easily demonstrate their crew’s cleaning efforts to auditors, meet compliance requirements, and eliminate the need for paper records. Optisolve™ is enhancing cleaning processes for a school with over 750,000 sq.ft of surfaces! How do we do it? Read our case study to learn more Click Here Janitorial Software Advances in computing solutions means today’s janitorial software options are more sophisticated and able to integrate more easily into a school’s cleaning protocols. These software options not only allow for efficient scheduling and tracking of cleaning tasks, but also enable real-time reporting and analysis of cleaning processes. By harnessing the power of data, schools can ensure consistent, high-quality cleaning standards that contribute to a healthier and safer learning environment. Enhance Your School’s Cleaning with Software From Optisolve™ Cleanliness in education facilities is essential for a school to run smoothly and for its students to get the most out of their education. At Optisolve®, we have advanced technology and tools that help you ensure your school is clean, your team is efficient, and auditors are confident your processes meet health standards. For more information on how to leverage technology for better cleaning strategies, contact our team.
What’s The Difference Between Cleaning vs. Disinfecting? “Cleaning is getting the dirt out,” while “sanitizing is what’s used…to get down to a certain level of bacteria”, says John Howard, Director, NIOSH. There can be a lot of confusion when it comes to cleaning vs. disinfecting. While these terms may be used interchangeably, they are vastly different in what they achieve. Let’s Clear Up the Basics First: Cleaning vs. Disinfecting vs. Sanitizing What is Cleaning? Cleaning is the process of physically removing dirt, grime, and impurities from surfaces. It typically involves the use of water, detergents, or other cleaning agents to break down and wash away contaminants. The primary goal of cleaning is to create a visibly clean space, free from dirt, dust, and debris. This process is essential in maintaining a pleasant and hygienic environment for people to work and live in. For businesses, regular cleaning helps to create a professional and welcoming atmosphere for both employees and customers. While cleaning can help eliminate harmful pathogens, it is not as thorough as sanitizing or disinfecting. What is Sanitizing? Sanitizing is a process that reduces the number of harmful microorganisms on surfaces and objects. This process aims to lower them to a safe and acceptable level as defined by public health standards. It is an intermediate step between cleaning and disinfecting, combining elements of both processes. Sanitizing typically involves the use of specialized agents that are less potent than disinfectants but still effective at reducing potential pathogens. Proper sanitization practices are essential at facilities where complete disinfection may not be feasible but reducing contamination is still crucial – examples include food service establishments and childcare facilities. What is Disinfecting? Disinfecting involves the application of chemicals that can kill or inactivate harmful microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi on surfaces. Disinfectants are specifically formulated to destroy or irreversibly inactivate these pathogens. The primary goal of disinfecting is to nearly eliminate the risk of infection and the spread of pathogens. Some establishments require disinfection over sanitation if there is a high risk associated with contamination – such as hospitals and medical research centers. Disinfecting may also be used to eliminate harmful artificial chemicals from surfaces to prevent them from spreading beyond containment. Many research laboratories and chemical processing plants employ such disinfection measures. In certain cases, disinfecting may be favored over sanitation in typically lower risk establishments. For example, a restaurant can typically get by with sanitization but may favor disinfection while serving someone with food allergies. Cleaning vs. Disinfecting: What’s the Difference? The main differences between cleaning and disinfecting lie in their goals, methods, and the substances used. Cleaning focuses on removing visible dirt, grime, and impurities, while disinfecting targets harmful microorganisms invisible to the naked eye. However, it’s not unusual for a business to use both processes. Cleaning is an essential first step before disinfecting. It helps to remove organic material that can interfere with the effectiveness of disinfectants. However, cleaning alone is not enough to eliminate all microscopic pathogens, especially on high-touch surfaces. You may also want to employ cleaning methods, sanitation methods, and disinfection methods to various parts of your building. For example, you may want to clean your desks, sanitize your bathrooms, and disinfect your kitchenette. Integrating these three processes into a routine maintenance program is essential for ensuring a safe environment. It’s also essential to select appropriate cleaning and disinfecting products, and to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for use. More resources you might like: Cleaning Verification vs. Validation Alternatives to an ATP Cleaning Verification System What to Know About Commercial Cleaning Certifications. Are You Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing Effectively? Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are complementary processes that together provide a complete solution for maintaining a clean and hygienic environment. Optisolve’s precision cleaning solutions allow cleaning teams to assess surfaces for contamination, validate cleaning practices, and maintain sites optimally. Book a demo to reveal contamination you may have been missing.
What Is ATP Surface Testing? Strict cleaning processes backed by quality control systems that quickly verify and validate surface cleanliness are essential to keep a facility’s occupants safe and healthy. ATP surface testing is one of the methods cleaning professionals can use to ensure their facilities are safe and sanitized. However, other methods are available in 2023, and ATP surface testing has limitations. This article will discuss ATP surface testing its history, its limitations, and explore alternate surface testing solutions. A Brief History of ATP Surface Testing Before developing more advanced, more accurate solutions for measuring surface cleanliness, ATP testing was the go-to methodology for biological contamination detection in the cleaning industry. It is still used by many cleaning teams today. When first introduced, ATP surface testing was revolutionary for the janitorial industry. It was the first test that was easy to use, portable, and also delivered fast, measurable results indicating if live biological material was present on a surface. What Is ATP? Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a biological compound found in the mitochondria of all living beings, including bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. All living cells use ATP to transfer and store energy. Live Cells Indicate Risk Every day, people shed skin cells rich in ATP that can easily find their way onto surfaces. Every time we touch a surface, such as a doorknob, lightswitch or sink faucet, we could leave some of our ATP-containing cells on those surfaces. In addition to our skin cells, any bacteria or viruses on our skin are also left on the surfaces we touch. Learn more about cleaning and disinfecting on our blog: What Is Cleaning Validation? What to Know About Commercial Cleaning Certifications What to Know About GBAC Star Accreditations Therefore, the presence of live cells indicates that harmful contaminants may be present on a surface. With ATP testing, living cells on a surface can be detected, which means dangerous pathogens may also be on that surface. How Does ATP Surface Testing Work? ATP surface testing uses a biochemical assay that induces a bioluminescence response from ATP compounds when exposed to a reactive organic substrate. When ATP is exposed to the chemical luciferin, ATP produces a bioluminescent flash. This flash isn’t detectable by the human eye, but it can be detected using a device called a luminometer. The higher the number of live cells on the surface being analyzed, the greater the response from the luminometer. What Are the Limitations of ATP Surface Testing? False Negatives False negatives are a problematic limitation of ATP surface testing. A false negative is when a test result indicates a surface is clean when it is actually contaminated. Certain disinfectants, degraded ATP samples, technical errors, sample scope, and uncalibrated test devices can easily result in a false negative ATP test result. False Positives False positives can also occur with ATP testing. In the event of a false positive test, cleaning staff can use more cleaning supplies, testing equipment, and more valuable time than necessary to clean and validate a surface’s cleanliness. False positives can be caused by compromised test swabs, cross-contamination, and residual ATP from dead cells. No Visual Validation Capability With an ATP test, it’s difficult to determine where contamination is present on a surface. If a surface test result indicates contamination, it’s impossible to know precisely where the live cells were found on the surface. This means you can’t easily verify if cleaning efforts mitigated a contamination risk. Inconsistent Results Another limitation of ATP surface testing is that results can be inconsistent. Sample size, sample scope and the amount of contact time with a surface all contribute to getting an accurate result. If any of these three factors are compromised, getting an inaccurate reading is easy. Alternatives to ATP Surface Testing In recent years new solutions to surface testing have emerged, providing janitorial companies with viable alternatives to the decades-old ATP surface test. Surface Imaging Technology With surface imaging testing methods, cleaning professionals can quickly identify and track a surface’s contamination level with precision and accuracy. This innovative technology is a hygiene monitoring tool that shows a lack of cleanliness (removal of organic contamination from a surface). The colour intensity increases from yellow to red based on the signal strength. It provides feedback on the level of potential environmental risk on hard, non-porous surfaces as a measure of cleaning thoroughness. Pathfinder combines surface imaging tools and cloud-based computing to make an all in one robust, cost-effective quality management system. Do Better Than ATP Surface Testing and See the Germs Pathfinder™ surface imaging technology makes the invisible visible Find Out How With surface imaging technology, cleaning companies have access to numerous benefits, including the following: Visually identify biological material on a surface Measure the efficacy of a cleaning process Verify and validate janitorial protocols Track hygiene monitoring remotely Currently, this type of surface testing is only available through Optisolve® and is a GBAC Star Registered product and technology. It’s also the only surface testing method that shows the precise location of contamination on a surface. Microbial Testing Instead of testing for ATP, janitorial teams use microbial-specific assays to test surfaces for specific types of bacteria or fungi. This can provide a more targeted approach to testing and help identify particular areas that need additional attention. However, these tests are limited in their ability to identify all types of biological material, such as viruses and non-targeted bacterial spores. Black Light Testing Janitorial teams can also use black light units to identify areas of contamination that might not be visible under normal lighting conditions. Some types of bacteria and fungi will fluoresce under ultraviolet light, making it easier to identify areas that need additional cleaning. Black light testing requires multiple steps, including a room to be dark to detect contamination and, therefore, is not ideal for high-traffic areas where routine cleaning is needed. Rapid Surface Hygiene Kits Commercially available surface testing kits can be used to test for surface contamination. These kits typically use a colorimetric or enzymatic reaction to detect the presence of food material or specific yeasts, mold spores or bacteria on a surface. These are commonly used in the food safety industry. Keep Falling Short on Cleaning Inspections? Track results and save resources with SAVI® cleaning validation software Learn More Unlike the surface imaging solution mentioned above, rapid surface kits cannot identify all types of biological material or accurately pinpoint a potential contaminant’s location. Trust Optisolve for Elite Hygiene Monitoring Whether you’re looking for a way to visually identify biological material, measure the efficacy of cleaning efforts, verify and validate janitorial protocols or track hygiene monitoring remotely, Optisolve® provides the best solution. With our surface imaging technology combined with cloud-based computing and photographic evidence of surface contamination, we have revolutionized how janitorial companies can test for contamination on surfaces. Contact our team to learn how to easily transform and streamline your team’s surface cleaning efforts.
Sustainable Cleaning Tools With increasing concern about the health of our planet, more and more businesses are looking for ways to lessen their impact on the environment. For instance, many global companies are getting rid of plastic for good and others are adopting a circular business model. Janitorial companies can easily do their part simply by adopting sustainable cleaning tools and eco-friendly cleaning products. In this article, we’ll explore how conventional cleaning products can harm our planet and share three alternative cleaning products and cleaning management processes that are gentle on the earth and safer for cleaning teams and their clients. How Do Commercial Cleaners Harm the Environment? Most commercial cleaning products, such as laundry detergent, floor cleaners and disinfectants contain chemicals that can pollute the environment. These can include phosphate-rich compounds, ammonia, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or other chemicals that can cause harm to water reserves, the air, and plants and animals. How cleaning companies handle, store and use commercial-grade cleansers can significantly impact their natural surroundings. If poorly handled and disposed of, the chemicals and resulting runoff can find their way into local water supplies, air, and the environment. These compounds can have long-term effects on the environment that can take years of costly remediation efforts to reverse. While indoor air pollution and locally contaminated water are immediate impacts of using unsustainable cleaning products, there are also other far-reaching implications. Unsustainable cleaning products: Cleaning product production processes are often unsustainable. A commercial cleanser’s supply chain also requires a significant amount of energy, which leads to the emission of greenhouse gasses and contributes to climate change. Water Consumption. Additionally, the production of commercial cleaners requires a lot of water, which can strain water resources in areas with limited water availability. Paper consumption: Many commercial cleaners still rely on large volumes of paper products for their cleaning and verification processes. This contributes to unnecessary landfill waste and overconsumption of Earth’s natural resources. Wasteful Verification Processes: Common cleaning verification systems, such as the ATP-based system, rely on unsustainable materials and supplies that cannot be recycled or composted. Learn more about cleaning processes in our blog: What Is Cleaning Validation? What to Know About Commercial Cleaning Certifications What Is a BioRisk Commercial Cleaning Services Certification What to Know About GBAC Star Accreditation 3 Sustainable Cleaning Tools Your Business Needs Fortunately, many sustainable efforts, processes and solutions are as effective as traditional cleaning chemicals but much less harmful to the environment. Let’s take a look at the three of them. 1. Sustainable Cleaning Products Switching from harsh chemical cleansers that can irritate the skin and lungs and pollute local groundwater to more sustainable sources can help cleaning teams better care for the environment. What to look for in eco-friendly cleaning products Look for options that rely on natural ingredients, such as citric acid, sodium citrate or borax and are certified by any of the following organizations: EPA Safer Choice B-Corp Leaping Bunny USDA ECO Logo Additionally, opt for products that rely on recycled material or plastic-free packaging. For instance, Seventh Generation commercial all-purpose cleaners come in recycled plastic bottles and are certified by the EPA’s Safer Choice program. 2. Paper-Free Cleaning Verification and Management Processes For decades, cleaning companies have relied on paper records and documents to record, track and manage critical cleaning processes. Paper records of cleaning processes can be inefficient and time-consuming for cleaning teams, as they require manual data entry, are easily misplaced or damaged, and lack visibility into real-time updates. Research estimates that incorrect data entry costs businesses at least 30% or more of their revenue. Plus, paper production can harm essential natural resources, including trees and freshwater. Switching to paper-free records helps to save trees and increase efficiency. They provide a better way to manage cleaning teams and keep accurate cleaning records. For instance, cleaning professionals using SAVI software can track data, verify cleaning processes, manage employee performance and access information in real time without the use of paper records. Customers have been able to get back more than 7 hours a week when switching from paper records and manual data entry. A saving of 25% a year in both material and labor. 3. Eco-Friendly Cleaning Verification Systems Cleaning verification systems are essential for commercial cleaning teams to test, measure and verify their cleaning processes are effective and consistent. However, the solutions and equipment used in many cleaning verification systems aren’t eco-friendly. Many cleaning verification systems, such as ATP testing methods, rely on single-use testing materials that generate waste that is non-compostable and non-recyclable. Plus, the inaccurate and inefficient nature of these tests means cleaning teams use copious amounts of cleaning products to clean a surface. Looking for Sustainable Cleaning Tools? Optisolve’s family of products help you to use less and clean more Pathfinder Surface ImagingSAVI Cleaning Validation Environmentally Friendly Verification: Surface Imaging Technology A surface imaging cleaning verification system, such as Pathfinder™ by Optisolve, is a sustainable alternative to ATP-based cleaning verification programs. It allows cleaning staff to see precisely where surface contaminants reside on a surface; this means they will use less cleanser to sanitize a space. Surface imaging verification also removes the need for cleaning companies to purchase and use single-use testing materials that become landfill waste. Find Sustainable Cleaning Systems from Optisolve® A facility’s cleanliness and hygiene are vital for guests, occupants and residents to feel safe and comfortable. However, that comfort shouldn’t be at the expense of the natural ecosystem and environment. Fortunately, janitorial companies now have more sustainable options than ever when it comes to cleaning tools and systems. At Optisolve, we’re committed to providing cleaning and maintenance teams with sustainable solutions to ensure your cleaning processes are practical and efficient and always meet the criteria of elite hygiene regulation standards. Our sustainable cleaning tools are designed to help janitorial teams raise their standards and improve the quality of their cleaning procedures with smarter, green cleaning practices that protect the environment. To learn more about our sustainable products and services, get in touch with Optisolve today.
Cleaning Verification vs. Validation Cleaning verification vs validation are two closely related but different cleaning procedures – both of which can lead to serious consequences if not followed correctly. While these two processes are closely related, they are distinct in their objectives and methods. Failure to properly implement either process can have serious consequences, such as legal action, loss of clients, and reputational damage. Consider a scenario in which an outbreak of a contagious illness occurs in a commercial office building, and elevated levels of harmful bacteria or viruses are detected. Upon investigation, it is discovered that inadequate cleaning and sanitation procedures were the root cause of the contamination. This situation highlights the importance of following proper cleaning validation protocols in the building services sector to ensure a safe and healthy environment. As a result, inadequate cleaning and sanitation procedures in commercial office buildings can result in serious consequences, such as legal action, loss of clients, and reputational damage for cleaning services providers or building management. Therefore, it is essential to implement proper cleaning validation protocols in the building services sector to prevent these risks and ensure a safe and healthy environment. Understanding Cleaning Validation and Verification Cleaning verification and cleaning validation are critical processes for maintaining a clean and hygienic environment, and are often used interchangeably. However, there are distinct differences between the two, and it’s important to understand the distinction to ensure that your facility is properly cleaned and disinfected. On one hand, cleaning verification is the process of confirming that a cleaning procedure has been performed correctly. This involves testing equipment and surface areas to ensure residue limits fall within acceptable limits and that all meet predetermined cleanliness standards. Need Help Fine-Tuning Your Cleaning Protocols? Discover how effective your cleaning protocols are and what you may have been missing by arranging a demo today. Book a Demo On the other hand, cleaning validation is the process of proving that a cleaning procedure is effective in removing all traces of contaminants from a surface or equipment. This involves a more rigorous testing process, including a risk assessment and a detailed cleaning validation plan. Cleaning Validation is typically performed less frequently than cleaning verification, such as once a month or once a quarter, depending on the industry. Validation is critical in ensuring that high-risk areas, such as operating rooms, cleanrooms, dining halls, and classrooms are properly cleaned and disinfected. For example, cleaning verification is often used to ensure that high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs and light switches, are properly cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis. Cleaning verification can also be used to ensure that cleaning validation guidelines are being followed consistently, even in areas that may not be considered high-risk. Whereas, cleaning validation may be used in more critical areas, such as operating rooms or cleanrooms, to ensure that all contaminants have been removed from the surfaces and equipment. Validation is also required in industries such as pharmaceutical manufacturing or food processing, where the risk of contamination and microbial growth is high and the consequences of failure can be severe. Cleaning Verification & Validation Methodology Differences To quickly recap, cleaning verification is the process of ensuring that a cleaning procedure was performed correctly, often done via visual inspections and surface testing. Whereas, cleaning validation requires a more in-depth analysis of the cleaning procedure and tests that verify the cleaning process meet acceptance criteria. Cleaning Verification Methodology and Occurrence Methodology Function Swabs Cleaning validation swabs are used to collect samples from surfaces for testing. The swabs may be moistened with a sterile buffer solution to make residue easily removable with manual cleaning. Test Strips Small pieces of paper or plastic that have been coated with a chemical indicator. When the strip is moistened with a liquid, the indicator color changes to indicate the presence of a particular substance. Visual Inspection A qualitative assessment of the cleanliness of a surface. This involves visually examining the surface to look for any signs of residue, discoloration, or other abnormalities. Chemical Testing Analyzes samples from surfaces for the presence of specific chemical residues, such as detergents or disinfectants. Can be done using analytical methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Microbiological Testing Involves collecting samples from surfaces and testing them for the presence of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Can be done using techniques such as swabbing, air sampling, or surface contact plates. ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) Bioluminescence Assay A rapid testing method that measures the amount of ATP present on a surface. A high ATP reading indicates that the surface may still be contaminated and requires further cleaning. The frequency of cleaning verification depends on a variety of factors, including: The type of facility The level of risk associated with the contamination The regulatory requirements governing the industry In most cases, cleaning verification procedures should be performed after each cleaning cycle to ensure that the cleaning process has been effective. However, for facilities with a high risk of contamination, such as hospitals or food processing plants, more frequent verification may be necessary. Regulatory bodies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) require cleaning verification to be performed at regular intervals, typically as part of a cleaning validation program. The frequency of cleaning verification may be specified in the facility’s standard operating procedures (SOPs), which outline the cleaning and verification protocols for each area of the facility. Otherwise, verification is typically performed on a regular basis, such as daily or weekly. Cleaning Validation Protocol, Methodology and Occurrence Methodology Function Surface Sampling Swabs Used to collect samples from surfaces after cleaning to assess the level of residual contamination. Moistened swabs with a sterile buffer solution that helps remove continents for an acceptable residue level. Environmental Monitoring Involves taking air or surface samples from the environment to detect and quantify the presence of microorganisms or other contaminants that may pose a risk of product contamination. Rinse Water Testing Involves testing rinse samples of the water used to rinse equipment after cleaning to ensure that it is free from contaminants. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Used to identify and quantify the presence of specific residues or contaminants, like disinfectants. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) Used to analyze samples for the presence of organic residues, such as proteins or lipids. Microbiological Testing Involves collecting samples from surfaces or equipment and testing them for the presence of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Generally, cleaning validation should be performed at regular intervals to validate the effectiveness of cleaning processes and minimize the risk of contamination. For some, this means the frequency of validated cleaning procedures may be specified in the facility’s standard operating procedures (SOPs), which outline the cleaning and process validation protocols for each facility area. For more relevant information, visit our related blogs: What is Cleaning Validation? The Problem with ATP Meters What to Know About Commercial Cleaning Certifications Maintain Safe and Hygienic Facilities With Our Cleaning Validation System Cleaning validation and verification processes are essential for maintaining a hygienic environment, especially in high-risk settings such as hospitals, long term care facilities, and schools. That’s why Optisolve’s cleaning validation tools, including the SAVI software and Pathfinder surface contamination imaging software, provide a comprehensive solution for cleaning quality management procedures. By utilizing our tools, cleaning teams can easily record and analyze regular cleaning verification data and use detailed trend analysis for cleaning validation, ensuring that cleaning procedures are consistently performed to the highest standards. With our solutions, you can rest assured that your facility is properly cleaned and disinfected, reducing the risk of contamination and infection. Our commitment to innovative and effective cleaning validation solutions makes us an essential partner for any organization looking to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. Contact us now to cover your cleaning needs today.
What is Meant By Precision Cleaning? According to Market Watch, precision cleaning is set to be a multi-million dollar industry by 2029. It’s an essential part of many industries to meet safety and performance standards, so this market growth isn’t surprising. But what is precision cleaning, why is it important, and how is it done? Here we’ll answer these questions to make sense of the technical process. We’ll begin with how precision cleaning needs and systems are planned: with cleaning validation studies. What Cleaning Validation Studies Tell Us About Precision Cleaning Cleaning is done to support the health and safety of people using an indoor environment or product. Cleaning validation studies allow you to identify where contamination risks exist. By being aware of these high-risk areas, you can make informed decisions about a proper cleaning strategy and set of cleaning standards to address these risks. For example, take the transmission of viruses in high-traffic areas. Various studies show that viruses like influenza A, norovirus, and many others can live on indoor surfaces. When left without proper cleaning, these surfaces can pass along viruses making people sick. For industries where the transfer of infections is of concern (like health care or educational institutions), cleaning validation ensures that you can properly identify which surfaces are at the highest risk for transferring contaminants. This helps to reduce health and safety risks with targeted cleaning. Cleaning validation also ensures that the cleaning standards developed are properly executed and maintained. It even addresses key challenges and concerns related to precision cleaning systems including: The level of film, contaminant, or particles acceptable on each surface after the cleaning process is completed The frequency with which the cleaning processes need to take place for optimal safety and performance Where productivity can be increased without sacrificing the quality of the clean Where cleaning costs can be reduced (90% of which can be attributed to labor) Used effectively, cleaning validation can help to save both time and money for organizations in a wide range of industries. Take a deeper look at cleaning validation with these recent blog posts: What Is Cleaning Validation? Cleaning Validation and Workforce Satisfaction What Exactly is Precision Cleaning? Regular cleaning allows us to keep surfaces clean but it doesn’t specify to what level surfaces need to be cleaned. When it comes to industries where the micro level can have harmful impacts if cleaning needs aren’t met, more precise and targeted cleaning systems are needed. This is when precision cleaning enters the picture. Precision cleaning refers to the cleaning process required to reach set cleanliness requirements. It’s cleaning at the micro level to remove contaminants to ensure the safe use of high-traffic spaces and high contamination-risk surfaces. Rather than require more time and resource, precision cleaning is about working smarter. With precision cleaning, surfaces are regularly tested to determine the efficacy of cleaning methods, allowing you to calibrate the most efficient cleaning regimen. The cleanliness requirements set out for precision cleaning services only allow a small number of particles, volatile residue, film, or contamination to exist on the surfaces being cleaned. The standards are either set out with the help of validation studies as industry standards or an organization’s standards. For example, the standards set out by Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) for various industries. GBAC offers gold-standard accreditation to facilities that can meet their rigorous standards. Precision Cleaning Methods & Tools With an understanding of what precision cleaning is, we can take a closer look at the processes used for it. There are several methods used and, in some cases, more than one method will be used to achieve the cleaning goals. Cleaning methods include: Aqueous Cleaning This method of cleaning primarily uses water as a base for cleaning and involves submerging surfaces to be cleaned in a cleaning solution. Ultrasonic Cleaning This method of cleaning uses high frequency sound, in other words, sound waves, alongside a chemical solution to remove contaminates from surfaces and achieve a satisfactory level of cleanliness. Solvent cleaning This method involves using chemicals to clean surfaces and product parts. This method is particularly useful for complex surfaces that include part rotation or holes and crevices in the surface. High Pressure Spray Cleaning With this method of cleaning, kinetic energy is produced through water jets with high pressures to remove contaminates from surfaces. Flush Cleaning This cleaning method is for internal workings, like pipes, that can not be easily cleaned. It involves forcing a cleaning solution through the pipe to clear the surface of contaminants. Learn how Optisolve assists cleaning services and teams in different industries: Optisolve Announces Attestation of HIPPA Compliance Healthcare-associated Infections will be Canada’s second leading cause of death by 2050… and Optisolve will help reduce them Cleaning Solutions for Institutions Food Manufacturing Cleaning Validation Wipe Cleaning This method is used for delicate surfaces that require a gentler approach. The surface is wiped by hand using particle-free wipes which are either dipped in deionized water or a cleaning solution. Vacuum Breakout This cleaning method uses a vacuum baking machine to remove and eliminate hydrocarbon contaminants. Testing, Cleaning Verification, and Cleaning Validation In addition to these methodologies, having cleaning validation tools like surface imaging and tracking systems can aid in streamlining your cleaning systems and looking more deeply at their effectiveness. These let you monitor and maintain high standards. Here are just a few of the methods commonly used to determine the effectiveness of cleaning methods: ATP ATP testing uses a light sensor to detect a reaction with adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a chemical in all living things. With ATP testing, a chemical reagent is applied to a 4×4 inch square area, and a device called a luminometer is used to detect the presence of ATP. Glo Germ With glo germ, a UV reactive contamination simulation gel is applied to an area to be cleaned. After a standard cleaning, the area is swept with a UV light to determine how effective the cleaning procedure was. Pathfinder Pathfinder is a new contaminant visualization system from Optisolve. Pathfinder uses a chemical spray that reacts with DNA and a special camera that enables you to see where the germs are. Empower Your Precision Cleaning Efforts with Optisolve Ensure your precision cleaning systems are running as smoothly and effectively as possible with the support of Optisolve’s Pathfinder and SAVI cleaning validation systems. Pathfinder allows you to make the invisible visible with bio-tracking so you can see areas of high contamination risk. This system also allows you to plan out and check the results of your cleaning efforts. SAVI is a cloud-based software that allows your cleaning team to plan, track, record, and report all aspects of the cleaning process. Unlike the checklists and sheets of paper used in the past, everything is digitized, so you can get cleaning insights like you’ve never seen before. These cleaning validation tools help identify where you can reduce costs and time spent on your cleaning service and enable you to maintain the high standards you’ve set for your organization. Book a demo to see how Optisolve can fit into your organization’s cleaning services framework.
Alternatives to an ATP Cleaning Verification System ATP cleaning verification systems have been a staple in healthcare, food processing/ manufacturing and the commercial cleaning industry since the mid-90s. They were the first portable, rugged and easy-to-use testing system that gave cleaning professionals insight into the effectiveness of their cleaning processes and efforts. However, technology has changed dramatically since the ATP testing devices first hit the market. Now, cleaning businesses can choose cleaning verification system alternatives to ATP that are more accurate and more efficient. What is a Cleaning Verification System? Cleaning verification systems are essential to demonstrate the effectiveness of cleaning and hygiene processes. They rely on various testing methods, such as ATP testing, UV and black light kits, or glow gel, to locate residual contamination or show proof that contamination has been removed from surfaces properly. They are used in numerous industries; some examples of these include: Food manufacturers rely on verification processes to prove their sterile processing equipment is clean and their products are free from contaminants. Healthcare facilities depend on verification management tools for infection control and prevention of pathogen spread. Janitorial service providers use cleaning verification systems to monitor the efficacy of their cleaning processes, ensure their facility complies with its governing bodies’ standards, and manage their employees’ performance and skills development. What is an ATP Cleaning Verification System? With an ATP cleaning verification system, cleaning and facility personnel rely on ATP testing methodologies to evaluate and monitor surface cleanliness. What is ATP? ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate; it is a compound found in the mitochondria of all living cells and organic matter. The human eye cannot see ATP, but levels of ATP can be easily detected with a testing device called a luminometer. What is an ATP Test? An ATP test is a biochemical assay that detects the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). How Does it Work? When exposed to a bioluminescent compound, ATP creates a tiny flash of light, called a bioluminescent flash. The flash is too faint to be detected by the human eye, however, it can be detected with the luminometer. In an ATP test, a 4×4 inch area is evenly swabbed with a pre-moistened swab containing a bioluminescent compound called Luciferin. If ATP is present on the surface, it will be gathered up onto the swab. Learn more about cleaning on our blog: What to Know About Commercial Cleaning Certifications What Is BioRisk Certification? What Is GBAC Star Accreditation? Next, the swab is placed into the luminometer. If ATP is present on the swab, the flash of light it generates from exposure to the testing solution will be detected by the luminometer. The greater the amount of ATP present, the greater the reading from the luminometer. What Does ATP Indicate? When ATP is found on a surface, it means live cells are present on that surface. If live cells are detected, it indicates a biohazard risk may be on the surface. This is because humans are the greatest transmitter of harmful pathogens. When we shed skin cells from our hands, we also shed other kinds of cells that may be on our skin as well, such as flu virus or bacteria. Therefore, when ATP is detected, it means live human cells are present indicating a potential for bacteria or virus material to be present as well. ATP Testing Limitations While ATP testing devices are rapid, convenient, and portable, ATP systems are limited and can only sometimes meet the criteria of a facility’s cleaning protocols. Cost, difficulty of use, equipment maintenance and inaccuracy, limitations of what can be detected, and cross-contamination are examples of limitations that cleaning teams encounter with an ATP cleaning verification system. With ATP, there is a lack of objective interpretation of test results. Further, the luminometers themselves need to be regularly recalibrated in order to correctly detect contaminants. Lastly, because of the limited read range, a complete test would need to be conducted one 4×4 inch square at a time, with potential for cross contamination during the swabbing process. Additionally, the chemicals used in ATP testing can interact with certain disinfectants to produce false positives. Alternatives to ATP Testing and Cleaning Verification System ATP testing is arguably the most widely known cleaning process for professional cleaning verification systems that are fast, portable and provide results on-site. However, there are other methodologies out there that we discuss below. Pathfinder® Surface Imaging Surface imaging uses UV technology to capture the fluorescence emitted by bacteria, which indicates the level of bioburden on the surface. The collected data is then processed by specialized software to generate heat-mapped images that reveal the precise locations of contamination in real-time. This innovative approach enables cleaners to immediately identify and address problem areas, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of surface cleaning. Pathfinder allows staff the unique ability to test areas over six times larger than what is possible with ATP testing, providing unparalleled visualization capabilities that cannot be achieved with other methods. With this cutting-edge technology, staff can effortlessly gain a comprehensive understanding of the bioburden distribution across larger surfaces, enabling them to identify and address areas of concern with ease. Surface imaging is portable and robust; it eliminates the need for cleaning staff to execute chemical assays or work with complicated testing devices. Protein Residue Testing Testing surfaces for residual protein is another way to measure and verify cleaning processes. Similar in theory to ATP-testing, if protein residue is detected on a surface, it indicates that live bacteria is also on the surface being tested. Another way protein residue verification is akin to ATP methods is it cannot pinpoint where contamination is within a testing area and requires users to be skilled in analytical methods and handling sensitive testing equipment. 5 Steps of a Cleaning Verification System All cleaning verification systems follow a basic outline regardless of the testing methodology, acceptance criteria or tracking tools. The development and validation of a cleaning verification procedure should include the following four steps: Surface Testing. The first step of a cleaning verification procedure is to set the baseline for a surface’s initial cleanliness. This is similar to a project’s “before” photo and is done with a valid testing method such as surface imaging testing, visual inspection or an ATP test. Cleaning. Once a baseline is established, step two is to clean the surface using an approved method, cleaning supplies and equipment. Verification. After cleaning, the cleaner will test the surface again using the test method used in step one. This is to determine an “after” picture. The results from the first and second tests are compared and then used to determine if the surface meets compliance or if further remediation is required. Looking for a Better Way Than ATP Testing? Pathfinder is a contamination visualization system that lets you see where the germs are Find Out More Tracking/Data Management. All test results are recorded as per data management protocols. This could be by handwriting results on a paper record, manually entering test results into a digital spreadsheet, or the testing device can automatically record results into a central data repository through a janitorial data management software platform. Remediation. Using the data from your test results, identify chronic problem areas and establish improved protocols and training. Cleaning Verification vs. Validation When establishing a cleaning verification process, it’s important to understand the difference between cleaning verification and cleaning validation, as the two can easily be confused. Cleaning Verification Cleaning verification systems define the processes used to manage surface cleanliness in a facility. This includes acceptable test methods and results criteria, surface testing frequency, data information management and incident response measures. Cleaning Validation Cleaning validation focuses on determining the effectiveness of the tests and materials used in the cleaning verification system. For instance, if ATP testing is the primary testing method for ensuring a hotel’s public spaces are sanitized, the cleaning validation process would prove the test’s ability to identify harmful pathogens. Many Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) standards are established by testing cleaning validation protocols in thorough validation studies. Gain Cleaning Verification Excellence with Optisolve® Cleaning verification is a critical step in ensuring the safety of customers, employees and anyone who visits the facilities you safeguard. With Pathfinder™ by Optisolve® you gain access to industry-leading expertise and testing methods that are superior to ATP metering, UV and black light, and glow gel to name a few and will propel your company’s cleaning verification system to the next level. Contact us today to learn more about the possibilities of Pathfinder™ surface imaging and our comprehensive janitorial management solutions.
What is a BioRisk Commercial Cleaning Services Certification/ Accreditation? Credit: Matilda Wormwood A building’s cleanliness greatly influences how comfortable and safe its occupants feel. However, proving how clean a building or public space is has been challenging for cleaning professionals and facility managers for decades. And, as the presence of high-risk biological contaminants such as COVID-19 and RSV, continue to present serious safety concerns, the demand for cleaning companies to provide greater assurances in their cleaning processes increases as well. This is where biorisk commercial cleaning certifications come in. In this article, we’ll explain what a biorisk commercial cleaning certification is, why it’s important to cleaning businesses, and discuss the rigorous steps to earn one. So What Is A BioRisk Commercial Cleaning Services Certification /Accreditation? A biorisk commercial cleaning certificate is a highly regarded certification awarded to businesses in the cleaning industry that demonstrate a keen commitment to mitigating and managing biohazard situations. The gold standard of bio-safety certification for a cleaning business is GBAC STAR™ accreditations. These are awarded by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council™(GBAC), a division of ISSA, only to those who meet their strict criteria. With a GBAC STAR™ Services or Facility Accreditation, clients seeking cleaning professionals can quickly identify cleaning services and products that meet an elite level of sanitation and cleaning validation standards that they can trust. Types of GBAC STAR™ Janitorial Accreditation Different GBAC STAR™ accreditation programs exist that companies, facilities, and product suppliers can qualify for. The nature of the facility or service being assessed will determine which accreditation is best for that endeavor. For Facilities: When a facility has a GBAC STAR™ accreditation, it has an established and comprehensive maintenance program that supports occupant health and can quickly respond to biosafety challenges. Unique accreditations are available for: K-12 schools Hotels Restaurants Public stadiums/arenas Spas Healthcare facilities For Service Providers: Cleaning professionals and commercial sanitation businesses with GBAC STAR™ Services Accreditation use processes that meet GBAC’s strict requirements. Cleaning companies that earn a biorisk cleaning certificate have proven they have incredibly high standards for cleaning quality, service reputation, and incident response measures. Any business that provides third-party cleaning products and services for cleaning homes, commercial facilities, or publicly owned buildings can apply for a GBAC STAR™ service accreditation. Examples of services and products that can apply for GBAC STAR™ accreditations include: Janitorial software providers Building maintenance providers Cleaning validation software Surface contamination technologies Get Cleaning Insight Like You’ve Never Seen Before Surface imaging with Pathfinder™ shows you where the germs are See How It Works Why Does a Biorisk Cleaning Certification or Accreditation Matter? The GBAC STAR™ services accreditation program is the most prestigious and sought-after biorisk accreditation available. This accreditation is vital for commercial cleaning businesses, facilities, and product providers because it provides tangible proof that a facility or service provider has met the highest industry standards for bio-risk management. Improve Biorisk Management Reduce the potential spread of contagious illnesses and promote a healthy environment for everyone. With a commercial cleaning certification or accreditation, businesses and facilities can ensure proper environmental hygiene practices are being met. Demonstrate Cleaning Validation Excellence With an industry-recognized certification/accreditation that validates the efficacy of cleaning protocols and procedures, commercial cleaning businesses can provide assurance that their work is being done to the highest standards. For instance, companies that use Optisolve’s GBAC STAR™ certified cleaning validation software can easily demonstrate to stakeholders their commitment to identifying environmental risks and targeting them with precision cleaning processes. Gain Competitive Advantage Much like other internationally renowned quality management systems, such as ISO9000, a commercial cleaning certification like the GBAC STAR™ services or facility accreditation gives commercial cleaners, facility managers, and product providers greater credibility and a competitive edge. Earn Client Trust A trusted certification or accreditation helps improve the confidence of guests and occupants. They feel more comfortable and safe because they know the facility prioritizes technology and procedures that properly disinfect a space. Credit: Liliana Drew GBAC STAR™ Accreditation Requirements Earning a biorisk cleaning certification or accreditation is a detailed and meticulous process requiring companies to fully commit to an ongoing standard of excellence in their cleaning and cleaning validation processes. Step 1: Determine if the GBAC STAR™ accreditation is the most suitable for your business. To determine which GBAC STAR™ accreditation is best suited for your business, you may need to consider the type of services and products you offer, the kind of commercial facility you are servicing, the potential bio-risk challenges that might be present, and if your established maintenance program meets GBAC’s standards for safety and quality. Step 2: Create a plan that covers all the accreditation requirements. This plan should cover topics like employee training, risk assessment, and management strategies, incident response procedures and practices, and develop an efficient process for maintaining all related records. Step 3: Train personnel to ensure they can perform their duties per GBAC STAR™ standards. Start training personnel on the GBAC Star™ accreditation standards. This includes hazard recognition, proper application of cleaning protocols and procedures, risk mitigation strategies, and how to use protective equipment. Optisolve cleaning validation technology serves a variety of industries including: Healthcare Event Spaces Food Manufacturing Building Service Contractors Step 4: Prepare for an onsite audit of your commercial cleaning processes Be prepared for a GBAC STAR™ auditor to review and audit your cleaning processes with a fine-toothed comb. Be sure to have a robust documentation system in place that auditors can easily access and review. Optisolve Cleaning Validation Tools Make Compliance Easy Optisolve delivers commercial cleaning programs with the tools needed for the successful implementation, monitoring, and maintenance of a commercial cleaning program. In addition to providing elite surface contamination technology, our suite of cloud-based validation tools is designed to simplify compliance, enforce audit readiness and guarantee data integrity. At Optisolve, our commercial cleaning validation software helps commercial businesses meet the requirements for a GBAC STAR™ janitorial services and facility accreditation. We automate the process of risk identification in each space, so commercial cleaners can quickly and easily target known risks with precision cleaning processes. Contact us to learn more about how our GBAC STAR™ registered solutions can help your business gain a competitive edge or meet commercial cleaning certification and or accreditation requirements.
What to Know About GBAC Star™ Accreditations Credit: Gil Ribeiro The COVID-19 pandemic forever changed how businesses approach the cleaning and maintenance of their buildings. As many businesses shifted to adopt better health and safety practices, many sought to achieve the highest standards of evidence-based cleanliness protocols possible through commercial cleaning certifications and accreditations. The most widely adopted among them is the GBAC Star™ Facility Accreditation and Services Accreditation. Our guide to ISSA cleaning certifications and accreditations covers what you need to know about how to become a certified cleaner and or facility to demonstrate cleanliness standards through cleaning validation procedures. What is the GBAC Star accreditation? The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) is a world-leading trade association that standardizes and accredits the global cleaning industry. ISSA offers several janitorial certifications, each reflecting different types of facilities, such as schools, hotels, or office buildings. One of the certifications ISSA issues is the GBAC Star™ Facility Accreditation, which sets the standards for how to prevent and respond to biological outbreaks in facilities. Designed by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council™ (GBAC) a division of ISSA, this accreditation program trains cleaning companies and internal facility maintenance teams on essential protocols like: Disinfection techniques Cleanup practices for biohazard material Workplace practices that promote occupant health The GBAC Star™ accreditation is a performance-based certification that requires participating entities to meet 20 different elements of quality management. After initial accreditation, reaccreditation occurs on a recurring annual basis. Benefits of Commercial Cleaning Accreditations and Certifications Obtaining a GBAC Star™ cleaning service accreditation has numerous financial, social, and health benefits that help businesses establish themselves as reputable janitorial service providers. Below are some of the top reasons to pursue commercial cleaning certifications, like the GBAC Star™ accreditation: Ensures standardization: GBAC Star™ accreditations set standards of cleaning across multiple different industries, both public and private. By adhering to a single standard for cleaning practices, occupants, staff, visitors, and other stakeholders are never left feeling uncertain about the cleanliness and sanitation of a space. Our commercial cleaning validation products suit the needs of a variety of industries including: Healthcare Facilities Food Manufacturing Event Spaces Building Service Contractors Improves workplace safety: Janitor certifications such as the GBAC Star™ accreditation foster workplace health and safety by setting high standards for cleanliness and sanitation. Staff who work inside buildings can rest assured they’re carrying out their job duties in a clean and healthy environment. Provides third-party validation: Since ISSA provides cleaning certification courses as a third-party accreditor, there’s higher certainty that businesses that are GBAC STAR-accredited are actually meeting a set of standards consistently. Third-party validation prevents businesses from misrepresenting their cleaning standards. Boosts customer confidence: When high-traffic buildings are cleaned and maintained by a GBAC STAR-accredited cleaner, it gives the general public or building occupants the reassurance to use the space without fear of encountering biorisk. Restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality-driven establishments can welcome in customers confidently. Credit: Nino Maghradze What Businesses Need a Commercial Cleaning Certification or accreditation? GBAC Star™ Accreditation program is designed for cleaning companies that serve any size of facility. Whether it’s a public or private building, any space with regular occupants can benefit from the highest standard in commercial and industrial cleaning. Below we’ll look at some of the categories of facilities that use certified commercial cleaning. Educational facilities: Daycares K-12 schools Higher education centers General service providers: Gyms and fitness centers Restaurants Retail centers and shopping malls Grocery stores Healthcare providers: Doctors and dentists offices Hospitals and clinics Assisted care facilities Chiropractic and physiotherapy practices Massage clinics and spas Paper Cleaning Checklists Piling Up Gathering Dust? Make cleaning assessments useful again with SAVI cleaning validation software Learn More Religious and events buildings: Churches and places of worship Convention centers and conference buildings Stadiums and arenas Transportation sector: Airlines and airports Car rental agencies Public transit authorities How to Achieve ISSA Cleaning Certification To achieve ISSA cleaning certifications, interested parties must go through an application process administered by the ISSA council. For organizations interested in pursuing the GBAC Star™ Accreditation program, the application process includes the following steps: Complete and submit the online application Receive an accreditation handbook and implementation guides Submit accreditation documents to the council for review Upon successful review, business is deemed compliant and GBAC STAR-accredited The GBAC Star™ accreditation cost varies based on organizational size and complexity, ranging from $600 to $16,500. During the process, a deposit is due at the time of initial application, with the balance to be paid upon accreditation. Achieving the GBAC facility or service accreditation doesn’t end once you receive the accreditation. Facilities must continually demonstrate adherence to the program’s standards. Demonstrating cleaning validation is essential to obtaining and maintaining certification. Cleaning validation procedures help businesses establish evidence for cleaning and sanitation practices in order to continuously prove the necessary standards to meet accreditation. Credit: Verne Ho With the help of cleaning validation consultants, businesses can ensure they are properly documenting and demonstrating their work. Some of the cleaning validation procedures that help businesses achieve cleaning certifications and accreditations include: Using evidence-based technology to identify surface contamination Adopting a software platform that documents and schedules cleaning protocols Maintaining a history of cleaning to support the evidence and documentation that’s needed Not only do cleaning validation practices make the certification process more efficient by saving you time and money during documentation, but they also streamline your internal cleaning protocols. Cleaning validation technology and procedures remove the guesswork from commercial cleaning so that staff can work in an efficient and effective way. Obtain ISSA Cleaning Certifications With Optisolve Cleaning Validation ISSA cleaning certifications are world-renowned certifications and accreditations that can help your business demonstrate to stakeholders your commitment to a clean and sanitary environment. Accreditations like the GBAC Star™ program allow businesses to continually meet the highest standards in biorisk management. If you’re pursuing a certification or accreditation for your cleaning business, consider how to make the process easier and more manageable by adopting cleaning validation tools and technology. Optisolve® cleaning validation tools include Pathfinder™ surface imaging technology and SAVI® cleaning quality management software. Both technologies are GBAC Star™ registered producs and technologies. They work together to help your business achieve the highest cleaning standards and maximize cleaning protocols and efficiencies. Contact us today to learn more about our approach to cleaning validation.
What Is Cleaning Validation? Credit: Adhy Savala If you manage spaces that see heavy foot traffic, manufacture medical treatment products, or make products for consumption, then you need to know about cleaning validation. Cleaning validation is an essential part of successful sanitization regimens, safeguarding where large groups of people can be put at risk from harmful contamination. Cleaning validation is a process of ensuring that the cleaning process is effective. It requires a careful balance of identifying contamination risks and costly cleaning resources to determine an appropriate cleaning strategy. This article delves into the contexts where cleaning validation is often necessary, alongside exploring some of the methods to ensure that your sanitization job is thorough. Cleaning validation can tell you both where cleaning processes need to be improved as well as whether staff need additional training. What Industries Use Cleaning Validation? As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have become acutely aware of the importance of thoroughly cleaning contact surfaces. Although some types of residue on surfaces are apparent, microorganisms are invisible to the naked eye. For this reason, many technologies have emerged to assess the sanitation of surfaces. An organization’s need for cleaning validation solutions varies by industry. Let’s go through a few of them. Building Service Contractor Cleaning Validation Janitorial companies and environmental managers need to be especially vigilant in their cleaning and disinfection practices to ensure quality that not only reflects their brand, but also complies with industry standards. With cleaning services, competition is fierce, and reputation is everything. You can’t afford to have an outbreak as the result of insufficient disinfection on your watch. Cleaning validation processes warrant that your practices effectively clean and disinfect all surfaces. Different contexts will require different validation strategies, so preparation for all of them is key to ensuring you can service any client, regardless of industry or location. Cleaning Validation in Education Educational institutions from elementary schools to universities see large groups of people circulating through buildings and spending prolonged periods in contact with desks, chairs, and a variety of other surfaces. Needless to say, surface-borne contamination can spread quite quickly if high-touch surfaces in high-traffic areas aren’t properly cleaned. A Hospital Can Easily Become a Germ Factory Stop the spread of disease with Optisolve Learn More Generally speaking, the younger the students, the messier and less germ-conscious you can expect them to be. When you get down to elementary and preschool, daily (or more) disinfection and routine cleaning validation of surfaces are a must to prevent the spread of germs. Many states and school districts have enacted their own regulations regarding the cleaning of educational facilities, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cleaning Validation for Medical Devices Perhaps the most critical industry for cleaning validation is in healthcare, particularly with medical devices. Medical devices are in close contact with patients, often for prolonged periods. Catalyzed by sweat and multiple other bodily fluids, this provides a ripe opportunity for bacteria and viruses to breed and spread. When it comes to medical devices, cleaning validation is not only needed prior to reuse, it is also required along the manufacturing line prior to distribution to ensure contamination of delivered goods does not happen. Medical devices, but also the equipment that produces them, must be routinely cleaned and assessed for contamination. Currently, no standardized FDA cleaning validation protocol exists. However, the FDA does require cleaning validation policies to exist in facilities. Although there are general standards for cleaning validation procedures for medical devices across the healthcare industry, they are not regulated. Despite a lack of regulation, medical device manufacturers and care providers are still responsible for a lack of attention to industry standards should their negligence result in an illness. Cleaning Validation in the Pharmaceutical Industry Cleaning validation in pharma, particularly in manufacturing, is bound by the same imprecise regulations as the healthcare industry relative to medical devices. In the pharmaceutical industry, not only are there pathogens to monitor but potentially hazardous chemical byproducts as well. With regular use, machines used to manufacture pharmaceuticals can build up chemical residues. If these chemicals find their way back into the production line, it could result in toxic contamination or inaccurate dosages, leading to an expensive and time-consuming product recall and possible harm to the consumer. Credit: Sam Moghadam Khamseh Cleaning validation strategies in the pharmaceutical industry largely focus on monitoring the cleanliness of manufacturing equipment. Data gathered from cleaning validation can then be used to determine best practices for sanitizing sometimes difficult-to-clean equipment. Cleaning Validation in Other Industries Other industries, such as entertainment, manufacturing, real estate, and retail, all experience high foot traffic. If not cleaned properly and frequently, a venue, factory, open house, or store can easily become a vector for illness.Spaces such as these require daily cleaning to ensure that they do not become breeding grounds for pathogens. Cleaning validation allows you to detect areas where cleaning processes can be improved. How Many Types of Cleaning Validation Are There? There are numerous means of validating the cleanliness of a surface, each suited to a particular context. In general, cleaning validation involves testing a representative sample surface to determine its cleanliness which stands as an estimate for the overall cleaning job. There are two types of sampling and three criteria by which the cleanliness of these samples can be analyzed. Types of Sampling The two types of sampling for cleaning validation are direct and indirect. The direct method involves assessing the cleanliness of the surface or object itself. The indirect method assesses a third substance, usually a liquid, that has been in contact with the surface being tested. 1. Direct Sampling The direct method of cleaning validation is the most intuitive. It involves using some means of directly observing contamination on the surface being tested. The most rudimentary direct method would be a visual inspection, though in most contexts this is far from sufficient and reliable. Children Can’t Be Trusted to Keep Your School Clean But SAVI can Find Out More Other methods involve applying a chemical marker that reacts with contaminants and is displayed with proprietary imaging technology. Optisolve’s Pathfinder™ is an example of this method. Pathfinder™ uses a chemical spray that reacts with DNA on surfaces. When it reacts with this compound under UV light cameras, it sends a signal which be picked up and processed by our special SAVI software system. This allows you to see photographic proof of where biological contaminants remain after cleaning. Another method is ATP metering in which surfaces are swabbed with a substance that reacts with Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). ATP is a molecule that is responsible for energy production in cells. The chemical reacts with ATP and glows using the same process that gives fireflies their light. But whereas Pathfinder™ gives you a 10×10 square inch visual representation of the contamination, an ATP meter only tells you how much contamination exists within a 4×4 square inch given area using a numerical sc2le. 2. Indirect Sampling With indirect sampling, a surface or object to be tested is rinsed with a solvent, and then the solvent is tested for contaminants. A commonly used solvent for this method is water. Due to the fact that water is pH neutral, it can be used to detect the presence of acidic or alkaline substances. The difficulty with this method is that it is only as good as a solvent’s ability to dissolve contaminants. A solid residue that does not rinse off with the solvent will not be detected in a sample with this method. Acceptance Criteria There are generally three types of acceptance criteria for cleaning validation: physical, chemical, and microbial. Each of these will have their own inspection methods. The physical criterion is the most basic. This could involve something as simple as a visual inspection for residue or particulate matter. This may involve magnification equipment. The chemical criterion usually involves some sort of reactant agent. The byproduct of the reaction between the reactant and contaminant is used to estimate the level of contamination of a surface. This may be done with color-changing dyes or other chemical indicators. Protect the Food Supply Chain from Disease Optisolve’s solutions maximize cleaning and minimize recalls Find Out How Lastly, the microbial criterion also involves a reactant but one specifically designed to detect the byproducts of biological processes. This may involve detecting certain proteins with a chemical indicator. Cleaning Verification vs. Validation To this point, we have largely glossed over the distinction between cleaning validation and cleaning verification. Though their purpose is the same–to determine the cleanliness of a surface–the processes used and frequencies differ. The purpose of cleaning validation is to ensure that your cleaning processes are effective at the outset. Thus, cleaning validation should be carried out any time new equipment or facilities are brought into commission or changed. Cleaning validation is usually more thorough and will often involve more than one testing method. Cleaning verification on the other hand is used to ensure that cleaning procedures were adequately performed. This will use insights from the cleaning validation process to test for the most common forms of contamination for a surface’s given use case. SOP for Cleaning Validation Cleaning validation can be a time-consuming process that involves several stakeholders and testing procedures. Central to cleaning validation is an organization’s standard operating procedures or SOP for cleaning validation. The SOP lays out how the cleaning validation is to be carried out, who is responsible for what, and the criteria used to determine the adequacy of cleaning procedures. While SOPs will vary greatly from industry to industry, there are a few basic elements that are common to all cleaning validation SOPs. First, the SOP will lay out the scope of the cleaning validation process. This details what surfaces are subject to the procedures listed in the SOP, and where hot spots might occur. Credit: MChe Lee Next, the SOP should delegate responsibility for the cleaning and validation procedures detailed within. This should include both who is responsible for carrying out procedures as well as who is responsible for signing off on them. An SOP must also lay out references to accepted cleaning criteria as well as any abbreviations or definitions to be used. This makes it for others to clarify the meaning of certain procedures. The SOP should lay out cleaning validation protocols. Investigation into the cleanliness of your facilities and equipment should yield worst-case surfaces where contaminants concentrate the most. These create grounds for your testing procedures. The SOP should detail worst-case sites, the contamination risks, and the means for testing them. With a Cleaning Company, Reputation Is Everything Protect it with Optisolve’s cleaning validation and verification tools Find Out More A helpful tool for assessing worst-case sites during a cleaning validation risk assessment for testing is a cleaning validation matrix. This lays out the types of contaminants and the surfaces where they build up the most for testing. The cleaning validation matrix gives you a visual representation of your worst-case sites allowing you to take the fewest samples during cleaning verification while still producing effective results. The SOP should then detail the appropriate method for addressing contamination. This will be based on testing cleaning procedures using the cleaning validation protocols for the highest-risk sites to establish optimal and acceptable processes. Lastly, the SOP should provide sample forms or software instructions for carrying out the cleaning validation. Cleaning Validation Software Currently, the majority of cleaning validation software available is designed for large-scale pharmaceutical outfits. The market for cleaning validation software that tailors to high-foot traffic industries is lacking. The facility maintenance and cleaning industry needs a software system that allows them to track and report on their processes. That’s where Optisolve comes in. SAVI® allows all cleaning and facility maintenance departments in a wide array of industries to standardize, monitor, and measure facility performance to determine areas for improvement. Not only does Optisolve have the organizational software system to achieve all of this we also have an award-winning surface testing methodology that allows you to identify surface contamination using validated image proof all in real-time. To get started with Pathfinder™ and SAVI®contact Optisolve today!
