Delayed Dialyzer Reprocessing for Home Hemodialysis

Although dialyzer reuse for home hemodialysis (done by patients at home) has been in practice since the 1960s, it is now almost completely abandoned. The need for dialyzer reuse resurfaced with the renewed interest in daily/nightly forms of home hemodialysis and the associated increase in operating costs. We describe a method of dialyzer reuse based on reprocessing of dialyzers at the center, after they had been stored in a refrigerator at home for 1 week by the patient. Transportation of the dialyzers by either the patient or a transportation service was acceptable to the patients. Despite the lower number of reuses, possibly related to the delayed processing, dialyzer reuse in this setting provided significant financial benefits. Experience with this process for 3 years has not disclosed any negative effects after the initial logistical issues related to dialyzer transportation were resolved. In summary, weekly dialyzer reprocessing at the center provides a solution to the need for dialyzer reuse for the home hemodialysis patient.