Application of epifluorescence scanning for monitoring the efficacy of protein removal by RF gas–plasma decontamination

Abstract

The development of methods for measuring the efficiency of gas–plasma decontamination has lagged far behind application. An approach to measuring the efficiency of protein removal from solid surfaces using fluorescein-labelled bovine serum albumin and epifluorescence scanning (EFSCAN) is described. A method for fluorescently labelling proteins, which are adsorbed and denatured on metal surfaces, has been developed. Both approaches have been used to evaluate the efficiency of radio frequency (RF) gas–plasma decontamination protocols. Examples with ‘real’ surgical instruments demonstrate that an argon–oxygen RF gas–plasma treatment can routinely reduce the protein load by about three orders of magnitude beyond that achieved by current decontamination methods.