Dialysis Water Quality Testing for Renal Units

Eurofins Healthcare Facilities Testing offers a dedicated renal dialysis water testing service, supporting compliance with ISO 23500 and the UK Kidney Association (formerly The Renal Association) guidelines.

Delivered by our accredited Eurofins Water Hygiene Testing UK laboratories in Sheffield (GB) and Belfast (NI), this service provides comprehensive microbiological and chemical analysis of rinse water and dialysate used in hospital renal units.

The service is fully supported in GB by our existing weekly hospital logistics network for endoscopy decontamination departments, enabling efficient sample collection with minimal disruption for hospital teams.

Why water testing for dialysis matters

Poor-quality dialysis water can pose serious health risks to vulnerable patients. Bacterial contamination or excess chemical residues can result in

• Inflammation, fever and pyrogenic shock (from endotoxins and microbes)

• Nausea and vomiting (from nitrates)

• Osteomalacia and bone density loss (from fluoride and aluminium)

• Neurological effects and organ damage (from heavy metals)

To ensure safety, renal services follow strict specifications under ISO 23500-1, ISO 23500-3, and UK Kidney Association guidance.

What renal water samples we test

We provide accredited analysis for a comprehensive range of microbiological and chemical parameters at our UKAS no. 1369, 9508 and 9658 accredited laboratories in Belfast, Sheffield and Wolverhampton, respectively.

Sample types

• Reverse osmosis (RO) water

• Dialysis water

Microbiological testing

• Total Viable Counts (TVCs)

• Endotoxins – LAL method (LOD: 0.01 EU/ml)

Chemical analysis

• Aluminium, Total chlorine Lead, Copper, Nitrate, Fluoride, Sulphate, Zinc

• Electrolytes: Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodiu

• Heavy metals: Antimony, Barium, Beryllium, Chromium, Silver, Thallium, Selenium Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium

• Other site-specific parameters are available upon request

Turnaround Time (TAT): Final reports typically available within 7 days (subject to sample volumes & availability), aligned with incubation time for TVCs.

How the service works in GB

Designed with renal technical teams in mind, this service uses our trusted Eurofins Orange Box system, already in use across NHS estates and private healthcare settings.

Each Orange Box contains

• Pre-labelled sterile sample containers

• Alcohol spray, wipes, sterile gloves, and aprons

• Clear instructions for sample collection

• Secure cool-box packaging (maintains ~5°C for up to 7 days)

Samples are collected by Eurofins-employed drivers on our regular milk-run schedules, ensuring full chain-of-custody and reliable collections. Boxes are delivered in advance so hospital staff have everything ready when needed.

Renal departments are not required to coordinate with endoscopy teams, but the use of the same logistics framework allows cost-effective and efficient weekly presence at site.

Collections work like clockwork – our drivers get to know exactly where to go, and hospital stores never lose sight of the bright Orange Boxes.

How the service works in NI

1. Order bottles at least 24 hours in advance from the Belfast laboratory sample reception team

2. Return samples to the laboratory within 12-18 hours of sampling for an analysis Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Benefits for renal departments

• Accredited testing of RO and dialysis water to ISO 23500-1, ISO 25300-3 and aligned with the UK Kidney Association guidelines*

• Dedicated to renal teams, with no need to coordinate with other departments

• All testing conducted in-house at Eurofins laboratories

• Trusted and reliable hospital logistics model

• Simple scheduling for monthly or quarterly sampling

• Results available within 7 days (subject to sample volumes and availability)

*GB only

Contact us

To discuss your renal water testing needs or request a demonstration Orange Box swap (GB only), please get in touch. Submit an enquiry or call +44 (0) 845 604 6740