Dopplers

There are many factors to consider when purchasing new equipment. Thinking about how easy or difficult it will be to comply with provincial standards for cleaning, disinfection or sterilization before purchasing each item will save time, trouble and money in the long run.

 

Question
Considerations

1

What are the cleaning requirements?  
  • Dopplers are used on intact skin and require low-level disinfection (LLD) between clients.
  • The gel must always be wiped off before LLD.
  • When the Doppler has been exposed to blood or other body fluids, such as at a birth, the whole Doppler must be cleaned and disinfected (LLD).

2

Can I clean it?
  • Major brands of Dopplers have manufacturer’s instructions for use (MIFU) which are either inadequate by PIDAC standards, very complicated or require the purchase of a specific brand of disinfection product.

3

Are there better or easier to clean alternatives?
  • The manufacturer’s instructions for use for Huntleigh, Sonotrax and Summit Lifedop Dopplers are all problematic.
  • Ask vendors and manufacturers’ representatives specific questions that go beyond the information provided on sales sheets and websites. For example: “Will I damage the unit if I disinfect it with hydrogen peroxide wipes?”

4

What is the IPAC plan for this item?
  • Although using disinfectant wipes approved for health care but not approved by the manufacturer may void the warranty, this is the only option for some brands.
  • If you do not want to use a disinfectant specified by the manufacturer because you prefer and normally stock a different type, PIDAC standards can still be met, but there is a small risk of voiding the warranty.

 

For general considerations and links to other equipment, see the AOM’s Equipment Purchasing Guide.


Brands of Dopplers

Manufacturers’ instructions for use of Dopplers change over time. The following summaries were prepared by the AOM in 2019 to assist midwives with their purchasing decisions. The summaries also identify problems that may occur as a practice tries to comply with MIFU for different brands. Consult the most recent MIFU for the brand you are considering before purchase.

Huntleigh

  • The MIFU recommends disinfection with sodium hypochlorite (bleach), but the specified concentrations do not match the concentrations in commonly available disinfection wipes sold in Ontario.
  • Mixing the recommended solution and carrying a supply of lint-free cloths to make wipes may be arduous and impractical.
  • Use prepackaged bleach wipes approved for low-level disinfection in health care and follow the application and wet contact time instructions. While these bleach wipes are not 100% compliant with the MIFU for the Huntleigh doppler, they are a pragmatic and IPAC-safe alternative.

Summit Lifedop

  • Clorox Broad Spectrum Quaternary Disinfectant is the only manufacturer-approved disinfectant that meets PIDAC standards. To comply with the MIFU, this product must be stocked in the clinic and birth bags.

Sonotrax

  • The Sonotrax MIFU are the most problematic of the three brands and cannot be safely followed.
  • The LLD methods described by the manufacturer are either not effective by PIDAC standards (e.g. wiping with alcohol) or involve immersion in disinfectants with no guidance on wet contact time.
  • Cleaning and LLD must be performed between clients to PIDAC standards, but the MIFU provides no guidance on which wipes will not damage the unit or void the warranty.