Control of Cleaning of Dental Transfer Instruments: Challenge of Chemical Residues

A Kampe, FHH Brill, A Pfannmüller, M Wehrl

Chemical residues of detergents and disinfectants after the manual preparation of dental transfer instruments pose a particular challenge in the control of the cleaning success. This periodic control is an elementary part of the validated treatment and is carried out by determining the residual protein content by OPA method. Matrix effects between chemical residues and the OPA reagent can affect protein quantification and lead to massive false-positive results. The present work shows a novel method for eliminating these matrix effects. By adding a cell debris suspension to the OPA measurement approach, an elimination of the matrix effects by 74 - 100% could be achieved.