Behind the Bubbles: SPD’s Crucial Role in GI High-Level Disinfection

Jaime Amaya
Jun 23
2 min read

Updated: Jun 28

If you’ve ever worked behind the scenes in Sterile Processing, you know we don’t wear capes—but maybe we should. While we’re not in the procedure room with the GI team, our work is essential to everything they do. One of our most important responsibilities? High-Level Disinfection (HLD) of GI scopes.

It may not be glamorous, but it's lifesaving.

What is HLD and Why Should We Care?

High-Level Disinfection is the process of eliminating all microorganisms on a scope—except for a few bacterial spores—using a liquid chemical disinfectant. GI scopes are considered semi-critical devices, which means they come into contact with mucous membranes. If they’re not thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, they can spread infection from one patient to another.

And that’s where we come in.

We’re the clean team. The contamination control crew. The defenders of patient safety. Without us, scopes don’t go back into service. Period.

Step by Step: The SPD HLD Process

Let’s break it down in true SPD fashion—because if there's one thing we love more than disinfecting, it's following process:

Pre-Cleaning Starts in Procedure Rooms: The GI team begins the process right after use—flushing channels and wiping down the scope. It’s a team effort, and we depend on them to start things off right.
Manual Cleaning in Decontamination: Now it's our turn. Using proper PPE and following IFUs (Instructions for Use), we scrub, brush, flush, and inspect every channel. Think of it like detail work on a luxury car—only more important.
Leak Testing: Before we go any further, we check for leaks. Because nobody wants fluid getting inside a scope—it compromises the device and the disinfection process.
High-Level Disinfection: Now the magic happens. Whether we’re using an automated endoscope reprocessor (AER) or performing manual HLD, we ensure every surface, channel, and crevice is exposed to the disinfectant for the exact amount of time and temperature required. Timing is everything.
Rinsing & Drying: Clean scopes are rinsed with treated water to remove any disinfectant residue, then dried thoroughly—especially inside those tricky lumens. Moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria, so we don’t skip this step.
Storage: Once dry, scopes are stored vertically in a clean, well-ventilated cabinet. We label, document, and ensure traceability—because accountability matters.

So…Why Does It Matter?

Let’s keep it real. Our job isn’t just about “cleaning stuff.” Every GI scope we process is used on someone’s mom, dad, child, or grandparent. That’s personal. What we do helps prevent outbreaks, infections, and re-hospitalizations.

Our work saves lives—and we do it from behind the scenes with precision, passion, and pride.