2025/09/26

Washing equipment that meets the microbial standards specified in WS/T508

The study points out that technological improvements can significantly reduce the risk of infection—but standard-setting organizations have failed to incorporate mature technological solutions into mandatory regulations. This misalignment between lagging technical standards and the risk of limited accessibility essentially shifts the risk of hospital-acquired infections—risks that could have been averted through technological upgrades—onto patients themselves. In effect, patients are footing the bill for “saving on improvement costs” by bearing the health risks associated with these infections.

2025/09/26

Internally isolated laundry systems boost medical laundry safety.

During the pandemic, it was generally recognized that cases of infection originating from the laundry room of a certain public security bureau were linked to clothing and followed a transmission pathway involving “conditional aerosol transmission.” As anyone familiar with product design knows, the internally interconnected tunnel-type washing equipment precisely meets the conditions for “conditional aerosol transmission.” Therefore, isolation doors should be installed separately between each stage—pre-wash, main wash, rinse, and neutralization—to break the internal connections between the upstream and downstream sections. Only in this way can the isolation requirements stipulated in WS/T508-2016 be met, thereby eliminating the potential risks associated with using such equipment for medical laundering.

2025/09/26

Which countries require medical textiles to be washed using hygienic isolation washing machines?

Globally, the safe laundering of medical textiles has long been an essential component of healthcare infection control. Many countries and regions have already enacted legislation or established industry standards requiring healthcare facilities to use hygienic isolation washing machines (double-door or dual-door washers). These requirements are primarily driven by stringent controls on the risk of cross-infection and the promotion of industry best practices.

2025/09/26

Pathogens and Data in Healthcare Laundry Environments

To safeguard patient health, it is recommended that the relevant authorities refine the WS/T508 standard by clearly specifying the disinfection requirements for tunnel-type washing machines, ensuring that they meet the microbiological standards. Moreover, medical staff’s personal items should be treated on an equal footing with patient supplies—for instance, including medical staff’s items within the scope of mandatory use of tunnel-type washing machines would rapidly accelerate the upgrading and improvement of such equipment. By refining the standards, we can effectively cut off cross-infection pathways at the source and reduce the incidence of infections caused by medical textiles.

2025/09/26

Analysis of the EN14065 and RABC Systems for Medical Laundry

The RABC system aligns with certain requirements of the ISO 9001 quality management standard, but it places greater emphasis on biocontamination control. At the same time, it draws upon the fundamental principles of risk analysis and contamination prevention as outlined in the EN 14698-1 standard.

2025/09/26

Washing equipment that meets the microbial standards specified in WS/T508

The study points out that technological improvements can significantly reduce the risk of infection—but standard-setting organizations have failed to incorporate mature technological solutions into mandatory regulations. This misalignment between lagging technical standards and the risk of limited accessibility essentially shifts the risk of hospital-acquired infections—risks that could have been averted through technological upgrades—onto patients themselves. In effect, patients are footing the bill for “saving on improvement costs” by bearing the health risks associated with these infections.

2025/09/26

Can the tunnel-type washing unit meet the disinfection requirements of WS/T508?

Tunnel-type washing units pose a potential risk of microbial contamination, and their hygiene indicators fail to meet the requirements of WS/T 508-2016. If equipment that does not meet these standards is allowed to be put into use, it will create a standard paradox. Faced with the issue of excessive microbial levels, will this standard remove core hygiene indicators in an attempt to accommodate equipment defects? This not only raises questions about the effectiveness of the standard itself but also directly affects the quality of infection prevention and control in medical institutions.

2025/09/26

Can the tunnel-type washing unit meet the disinfection requirements of WS/T508?

Tunnel-type washing units pose a potential risk of microbial contamination, and their hygiene indicators fail to meet the requirements of WS/T 508-2016. If equipment that does not meet these standards is allowed to be put into use, it will create a standard paradox. Faced with the issue of excessive microbial levels, will this standard remove core hygiene indicators in an attempt to accommodate equipment defects? This not only raises questions about the effectiveness of the standard itself but also directly affects the quality of infection prevention and control in medical institutions.

2025/09/26

Product Structure and Scale Formation in Tunnel-Type Washing Units

I’d like to understand the product structure of tunnel-type washing units (tunnel continuous washing systems or laundry dragons), particularly: How are garments transferred from the first chamber to the second chamber? I’d appreciate a detailed explanation of the process. In the main washing chamber, detergents are used and the water is heated. The wastewater washed off the garments is highly contaminated, leading to scale buildup on the spiral plates during transport. Approximately how thick would the scale be after one year of operation? What disinfection measures should be applied to the spiral plates?

2025/09/26

WS/T508: Compliance Dilemmas and Breakthrough Paths for Equipment Prone to Microbial Contamination

The internal structure of tunnel-type washing units poses a significant risk of microbial contamination in medical laundry facilities, making it impossible to effectively control bacterial counts and meet the microbiological requirements specified in WS/T 508. This could result in medical textiles carrying pathogenic bacteria, thereby increasing the risk of hospital-acquired infections. How can we resolve the contradiction between the microbiological standards stipulated in the guidelines and the failure of equipment to meet these technical requirements? Should we remove the technical requirements altogether, or eliminate the equipment that fails to meet the standards? Please provide recommendations for revising WS/T 508.