Exactly What Is the

AAMI ST108 Protocol?

ST108 is a guideline from AAMI. It defines the water quality required in surgery centers and hospitals. It focuses on the water used for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of surgical tools.

ST108 includes strict limits. These cover things like:

Conductivity

Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

Microorganisms

Endotoxins

Hardness and chlorine

If your water doesn’t meet these standards, your instruments may not be clean. Worse, your patients may be at risk.

Why Does ST108 Matter Now?

Many inspectors are already using ST108 as a benchmark. So are accreditation agencies. They want to see that your water system is ready. Centers that fail water quality tests face shutdowns or citations. Even if ST108 isn’t enforced yet, non-compliance is still a red flag.

ST108 helps prevent:

Biofilm buildup in autoclaves

Corrosion of surgical tools

Cross-contamination

Infections from improperly cleaned instruments

That’s why forward-thinking surgery centers are upgrading now. They know clean water protects patients, staff, and their license.

The Role of Water Filtration

To meet the AAMI ST108 protocol, filtration is essential.

 A basic carbon filter isn’t enough. You need a medical-grade system. That means:

Reverse osmosis (RO)

Deionization (DI)

Carbon backwash

Pre-treatment for scale and hardness

Final polishing filters

Each stage plays a role. The RO and DI remove minerals, metals, and organics. Carbon protects your membranes. Polishing filters remove endotoxins and microbes.

We design water filtration systems that meet and exceed ST108. Whether you're building new or upgrading, we tailor it to your space and your workflow.

Why Choose Safeway

Water Technologies?

We specialize in water treatment for surgery centers. We understand the challenges of sterile processing.

Our ST108 compliance packages are:

Efficient

Affordable

Tailored to your facility

Backed by lab-tested performance

We already help facilities meet the ST108 standard — and stay there. Let us do the same for you.

Don’t wait for an inspection to find out your water system isn’t ready.