Evidence-based analysis of field testing of medical electrical equipment

Field testing of medical electrical equipment remains a topic of debate amongst biomedical engineers. A questionnaire was circulated among members of the main professional body for Medical Engineering Departments in the UK and Ireland and in the Medical Physics and Engineering Mailbase Server. The aim of the questionnaire was to establish consensus on common practice on the frequency and type of safety tests carried out in the field and common sources of hazards and risk management. Twenty-six replies were received in total. A clear majority of 54% of the respondents reported that they carried out safety tests on hospital-based medical equipment on a yearly basis. For other equipment, regular tests were carried out by 58% on loan equipment and by 69% on medical electrical systems. Laboratory equipment on the other hand were not tested in 42% of the cases. Domiciliary and research equipment were only tested in 11% and 15% of the cases respectively. A clear majority of 93% said that they label equipment after tests, 34% said that they always record the actual values (as opposed to pass or fail) and 54% said they carry out functional test as part of the safety test. Although 61% of failures were attributed to the mains lead, only 50% of the respondents said that they had a management system in place for detachable mains leads.