Although it may not always seem like it, a flexible endoscope is an extremely delicate instrument. A small mistake can lead to big repairs. Unfortunately, opportunities abound for damage, both internal and external, during transport to and from the procedure room, during the procedure itself, and during the cleaning process.

Why Leak Testing is Required for Endoscopes

The main reason why this testing is required is to protect patients from infection or other complications that can result from scope leaks. But beyond patient safety, if fluid gets inside the scope, it can damage fiberoptic and image bundles, causing them to get brittle and possibly break. Fluid can also damage video chips and cause stiffness in, or even loss of, angulation capabilities. These are expensive, time-consuming repairs.