Multiple use of dialysers. Six uses is the optimum

In-vivo small-molecule clearances, ultrafiltration rate, and priming volumes were measured in a modern hollow-fibre dialyser after three, six, and 12 uses in a study group of nine regular dialysis patients. A detailed costing of reuse was carried out in order to determine the most cost-beneficial number of uses. Dialyser performance was not affected by any measurable criteria up to 12 uses. A 50% reduction in dialyser cost can be achieved by a policy of three uses, and a 62.5% reduction with a six-use policy. It is recommended that six uses of a dialyser represents the most cost-beneficial decision. A survey of reuse in Australian dialysis units showed that 42% of these are using dialysers, and that there were large regional differences in reuse policy.