Particulate Monitoring in Healthcare Facilities
One of IAQ Diagnostics’ primary services is providing indoor air quality testing in healthcare facilities. These services include (but are not limited to):
- Particulate monitoring for construction/renovation activities
- Commissioning of sensitive areas (e.g. ORs, Sterile Processing, Cath Labs, etc.)
- Caregiver and occupant complaints
Particulate Monitoring and Commissioning of Sensitive Areas
The main goal of particulate monitoring is to help ensure that construction dust is controlled throughout a renovation project within a healthcare facility. Typically, baseline samples for airborne particulate are gathered prior to the start of the project. After the renovation is complete, but before containment barriers are removed, IAQ Diagnostics returns to the facility and gathers follow-up samples for airborne dust. Containment barriers are only removed after the levels of airborne particulate are below (or statistically similar to) the baseline readings.
On more sensitive projects, IAQ Diagnostics may perform periodic sampling outside of the containment (during the renovation activities) to help ensure the engineering controls (e.g. containment barriers, negative pressure, etc.) are controlling the construction dust.
On very sensitive projects, such as a renovation of an Operating Room or Cath Lab, IAQ Diagnostics may be asked to perform bioaerosol sampling for viable airborne bacteria and/or fungal spores prior to reopening the area to patient treatment.
Caregiver and Occupant Complaints
IAQ Diagnostics is often asked to assist when a caregiver or occupant voices air quality complaints in a healthcare facility. In these situations, IAQ Diagnostics frequently uses a Quest EVM Indoor Air Quality Meter to monitor several aspects of air quality including total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), total airborne particulate, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, temperature and relative humidity. In a healthcare setting, it is also important to consider which procedures are being preformed in the area-of-concern and which chemicals or reagents are used as part of that process.