Q. We are looking to clean denatured proteins from our medical device along with baked-on desiccated blood that is not removed completely. Manual scraping removes the residual but is not acceptable. Need a cleaner that will dissolve all bio-matter. Cleaning process is to prepare device for autoclave sterilization.

A. To clean denatured proteins use a warm (not exceeding 130F / 55C) 1-2% Tergazyme® Enzyme-Active Powdered Detergent (1.25 – 2.5 oz/gal or 10 – 20 g/L) solution to soak, or ideally ultrasonically soak the substrates.

The detergent contains both powerful emulsifiers for organic and oily residue, along with proteases to greatly assist in protein removal.

Visually inspect and scrub as needed to speed up the cleaning process. Soak for at least 20 minutes. Higher solution concentrations increase the detergent’s capacity or the amount of residue that can be removed. Be sure to use freshly made Tergazyme solutions that are less than 8 hours old. Older solutions of Tergazyme cleaner may lose some of their enzymatic detergency due to the enzyme digesting itself in solution once it is dissolved.

Similarly, temperatures above 130F/55C can degrade the enzyme and alter its effectiveness. Rinse thoroughly to remove the detergent solution and residues after cleaning.