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Waterline test kit
Also called: water test, in-office water test, mail-in water test
A kit that counts the bacteria in water from the dental unit.
Testing is the only way to know the waterline treatment is working. You collect water from a handpiece line or the air-water syringe and either grow it in an in-office kit or mail it to a lab. The result should be 500 CFU/mL or less.
How to spot it
- Sterile sample vials, culture paddles or a mailer box from a testing lab.
What it is used for
- Test as often as the unit or product manufacturer recommends and record results.
- If a test fails, treat per instructions and retest right away.
Safety and care
- Collect samples with clean technique so you do not contaminate them.
Related
Sources: CDC. Best Practices for Dental Unit Water Quality, ADA Oral Health Topics. Dental Unit Waterlines, CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17)