Page 8 - The Care and Handling of Flexible Scopes v3

Care of Flexible Endoscopes

Figure 3 – Performing a Manual
Leakage Test

Steps to perform a manual leakage test are as follows:

1. Ensure that the hose of the leakage tester is attached to the leakage tester and that
the hose’s locking collar is in good working order. The leakage tester may be a
machine or a manually operated device that looks similar to the bulb and gauge of a
blood pressure machine.
2. Connect the leakage tester by tightening the locking collar onto the endoscope’s
connector for leakage test and pressure equalization. This connector is usually
located on the side of the control body opposite the control levers.
3. Start the leakage tester by either: a) activating the machine to the recommended
pressure, or b) closing the knurled screw on the inflating bulb and inflating it to the
recommended pressure.
4. The manufacturer may have you submerge the endoscope in clear water during the
inflation step of the leakage test. If so, use only clear water and check the water for
any air bubbles; watch if the pressure is falling on the pressure gauge. These are sure
signs that the covering is compromised and the endoscope will need to be taken out
of service for repair. A later section of this learning activity, “REPAIRS,” will describe
how to prepare the endoscope prior to shipping for repair.
5. If the pressure remains constant and no air bubbles appear, the endoscope’s
covering is intact.
6. Release the pressure and wait! Release the pressure on the machine or manually
unscrew the knurled screw on the inflating bulb. Ensure ALL of the pressure has been
released before disconnecting the locking collar from the endoscope’s connector.
Proceed with disassembly and cleaning.

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