710309BIOtAK Ltd - Proof of Concept of PEROXItAK and STEAMtAKClosedGRD Proof of ConceptInnovate UKIn 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 peroxide plasma or steam device. The ability to check that the sterilisation process is functioning properly ensures that pathogen levels have been reduced to a sufficient level so as not to transmit disease to the following patient. BIOtAK is developing two devices, PEROXItAK and STEAMtAK, to monitor sterilisation processes which use hydrogen peroxide and steam respectively as the sterilant. The key objective of this project is to perform specialist testing of these products to obtain proof of concept. 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 can achieve at best only one or two of these capabilities at a time. PEROXItAK and STEAMtAK would make up 2 distinct work packages. The aims of these projects are to use a test rig to evaluate the potential of PEROXItAK to monitor hydrogen peroxide based sterilisation processes. In addition this package will involve the formulation of test devices to ensure they are suitable for use for this application. For STEAMtAK the aim is to evaluate possible enzyme formulations that can monitor the steam sterilisation process. Testing will determine if there is remaining enzyme activity at 140°C dry heat after 30 minutes as required by the chemical indicator standards, and also assess in the presence of saturated steam. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has been carrying out research on enzymes called thermostable Kinases which are very robust enzymes. Thermostable Adenylate Kinase (tAK) has been developed by BIOtAK as a wash process indicator in hospitals for surgical instruments. Now BIOtAK wishes to assess the application of this enzyme technology to monitor sterilisation processes.