In recent years, several hospitals have had to make the difficult decision to postpone surgeries—not because of a lack of patients or surgeons, but because their sterilization processes broke down. Less than a year ago on one large medical campus, for example, multiple facilities faced interruptions tied to sterile processing operations.
Hospital A paused surgeries after a residue was discovered on sterilized surgical instruments.
Hospital B Staffing shortages in the sterile processing department limited its ability to keep up with surgical demand and mistakes were made.
Hospital C was unaffected, but its proximity highlighted how fragile sterile processing operations can be.
Although each case had different causes, one common truth stands out: when water quality and sterile processing fall short, the surgical care dominoes fall
Why ST108 Matters
The ANSI/AAMI ST108:2023 standard was written to prevent exactly these kinds of situations. It sets measurable requirements for water used in sterile processing, covering chemical, microbial, and physical characteristics.
For example, Table 2 of ST108 specifies:
Chloride levels must be <1 mg/L in Critical Water to prevent corrosion on surgical instruments.
Conductivity must be <10 µS/cm in Critical Water to ensure minimal ionic contamination.
Total hardness must be <1 mg/L CaCO₃ in Critical Water to avoid scaling inside washers and sterilizers
These are not theoretical numbers—they are thresholds that, when exceeded, can cause exactly the kind of residue, staining, and equipment failures seen in the Colorado events.
And it’s not just about having the right equipment. Tables 5 and 6 in ST108 detail how often water must be tested at both the generation system and point-of-use. For example, bacterial counts in Critical Water require monitoring at least weekly at generation and daily at the point-of-use. Without this rigor, even the best reverse osmosis system cannot guarantee compliance.
A Question for You
When was the last time your facility measured chlorides, hardness, or conductivity at the point-of-use in your SPD? Would your data fall within the ST108 limits?
If the answer is “I’m not sure,” your hospital may already be at risk.
The Domino Effect of Getting It Wrong
Postponing surgeries is more than an inconvenience:
Patients face delayed care and increased risk of complications.
Surgeons and staff are forced to reschedule and manage frustration.
Hospitals lose revenue, reputation, and trust in their ability to deliver safe care.
And the financial fallout from replacing corroded sterilizers or reprocessing contaminated instruments often dwarfs the cost of prevention.
How VERDA Helps
At VERDA Water Quality Systems, we align sterile processing operations with the letter and spirit of ANSI/AAMI ST108. We don’t just install equipment—we design, monitor, and maintain water systems that consistently meet the specifications in Table 2, Table 5, and Table 6.
Our turnkey services include:
Water quality testing at generation and point-of-use.
Monitoring and reporting that satisfy compliance documentation.
Sanitization and preventive maintenance to stop problems before they start.
With VERDA as a partner, hospitals avoid costly disruptions and gain confidence that their SPD water will never be the weak link.
Bottom line: Water isn’t just a utility—it’s a critical medical resource. By following ST108’s measurable requirements and partnering with VERDA, hospitals can prevent downtime, protect patients, and keep surgeries on schedule.
If you’re looking for help, contact us.