ChemDAQ® Steri-Trac 2+ Peracetic Acid Monitoring System

The Steri-Trac 2+ by ChemDAQ – A continuous Peracetic Acid Monitoring System effectively manages personal exposure of PAA and other sterilant gases.

• Real-time measurement of vapour concentration in ppm, while simultaneously calculating an 8 hour and 15 minute time weighted average (TWA)

• Easy to use “plug & play” setup

• Visual and audible alerts are factory set to meet regulatory requirements, but are customisable to user preference

• “Impending” alerts warn as exposure is approaching unsafe limits allowing for proactive measures to prevent exposure to hazardous chemical vapours

• Data collected and stored in .csv format and is downloadable for analysis and reporting purposes

• Mount by acrylic stand or wall mount

While the most common sensor is PAA, Steri-Trac 2+ is also configurable to support 28 different gases including Ethylene Oxide, Hydrogen Peroxide and Ozone.

Monitoring & Alarms

The Steri-Trac 2+ gas sensors display an intuitive scale of LED’s to present gas concentrations in real time. The gas sensors also feature clear audible and visual alerts.

• Low alarm results in a flashing yellow display and pulsing alarm horn.
• High alarm results in a flashing red display and continuous alarm horn

Relay outputs provide simple alarms or more sophisticated controlled fan/airflow systems.

Reduce Downtime with Sensor Exchange Program (SXP)

ChemDAQ’s exclusive SXP service provides you with the assurance that your monitoring system sensors are calibrated and accurate. This is done by delivering timely and consistent factory pre-calibrated sensors.

a1-cbiss offers a convenient, hassle-free, sensor exchange program using a simple three step process

1.  a1-cbiss notifies designated SXP contact person at your facility when it’s time for new sensor(s)

2. a1-cbiss ships factory pre-calibrated sensors for each specific chemical along with calibration certificates.

3. Designated SXP contact person connects new sensor(s) to monitor(s) and returns expired sensor(s) to a1-cbiss in the shipping container provided using the pre-addressed, pre-paid return shipping label.

Regulations / Guidelines for Peracetic Acid

JAG Accreditation

JAG is regarded as the gold standard of accreditation for endoscopy regulation & safety. The accreditation enables endoscopy services to assess their current performance, and it supports them in planning and developing their services with People, Workforce and for their Profile for improving performance.

Endoscopy decontamination departments are required to to have a PAA monitoring system installed as part of their compliance with JAG accreditation.

Exposure Limits

Exposure limits and guidelines when using peracetic acid disinfection have been set by a number of national agencies including the following.  Make sure to follow these for proper PAA safety and training of staff:

CAL-OSHA: Proposed limits
15-minute STEL of 0.4 ppm
8-hour PEL of 0.15 ppm

A Growing Demand for PAA Monitoring

The demand for PAA monitoring systems has grown substantially after safety bosses are starting to take note of the dangers of PAA.  Over the past 2 years,  a1-cbiss have completed Endoscopy department installations at several hospitals across the UK.

Safety managers are adopting a safety-conscious mindset by ensuring that sterilisation areas are protected by monitoring system to create a safe working environment for their employees.

Peracetic acid (PAA) is a liquid sterilant that is used in;

• Disinfection of medical devices in hospitals and manufacturing
• Treatment of bottles and beverage containers prior to filling
• Poultry, meat, seafood, fruits, vegetables and other food items to prevent foodborne illnesses

Overexposure to PAA can cause severe physiological effects

• Irritation and burning of the skin and eyes leading to eye damage
• Irritation of the nose and throat
• Irritation of the lungs causing coughing and shortness of breath

How can you measure Peracetic Acid separately from Hydrogen peroxide, isn’t there hydrogen peroxide in PAA?

Peracetic acid (PAA) is formed in an equilibrium mixture with hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid, so in a mixture of PAA, hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid, PAA is being continually formed by the reaction of hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid, and peracetic acid is continually breaking down to reform hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid.

CH3CO2H  +  H2O2  => CH3COOOH  +  H2O

CH3COOOH  +  H2O =>CH3CO2H  +  H2O2

The kinetics of this reaction are quite slow, so absent a catalyst, the reaction takes days or weeks, which for most gas detection applications, means that the mixture behaves as a simple solution of the three components, i.e. the PAA does not turn into hydrogen peroxide in the timescale of gas detection. The solution thus contains both PAA and hydrogen peroxide, and both will contribute to the vapour, but PAA is the more hazardous component. The PAA sensor thus needs to detect PAA selectively and not respond to hydrogen peroxide.

PAA and hydrogen peroxide are both strong oxidizing agents and so the bare sensor will respond to both of them, however, Steri-Trac 2+ sensors have a chemical filter in front of the sensor which removes at least 99% of the hydrogen peroxide vapour. Thus Steri-Trac 2+ PAA sensors do indeed respond just to the PAA and not the hydrogen peroxide.

How can a1-cbiss help you?

To find out more about our Peracetic Acid monitoring system solution, click here

a1-cbiss known for their engineering capabilities offer a site survey to help specify your requirements, complete project management, installation & commissioning, and ongoing servicing of the system.