Why Consistency Counts
Single-use consumables are central to keeping sluice rooms reliable and safe. When a product breaks down properly, it reduces blockages, keeps estates teams free from avoidable callouts, and helps nurses focus on care. For suppliers, demonstrating that consistency is just as important — especially when competing in tenders or building trust with hospitals.
ICON’s triple test certification was created to support both sides of the system: giving hospitals confidence in the products they choose, and giving suppliers a fair way to prove reliability and better their visibility.
What Triple Testing Means
Every product tested by ICON can be run once, but when a supplier opts for triple testing, the same pair (a macerator and consumable together) is tested three times under identical conditions. This approach reduces the chance of one-off results and gives a clearer picture of how a consumable performs.
For suppliers, this means results carry more weight: strong performance over three runs shows procurement teams that their products are dependable. For hospitals, it means the data on a report card is more than a snapshot — it reflects consistent results.
When you see the triple test badge on a report card, or on the supplier’s official certificate, you know the product has been tested to a higher standard.
Maintaining Triple Test Status
Triple test certification isn’t a one-time achievement. To ensure results remain valid and reflect current production, the badge carries a three-month expiry. This means a consumable must be re-tested every quarter to maintain its triple test status.
If a product is not re-tested within that timeframe, the badge is automatically removed from both the report card and the supplier certificate until fresh testing is completed.
For hospitals, this provides an important safeguard: when you see the badge, you know the performance data is current, not outdated. For suppliers, it’s an incentive to demonstrate ongoing consistency and commitment to quality.
What to Look Out For
As a hospital, ICON’s report cards are designed to be quick to interpret, using a traffic light system:
- Green = tested positively.
- Amber = minor concerns worth noting.
- Red = struggled under test conditions.
Another mark to look out for is the Certified Supplier badge. This is given to suppliers who commit to ICON’s most rigorous testing pathway. The badge appears both on their report cards and on their supplier certificate.
For hospitals, this makes decision-making easier:
- You can identify suppliers who are fully invested in transparency.
- You can filter for products backed by the strongest level of testing.
- You gain confidence that the consumables you’re buying will perform reliably, not just once, but consistently.
Takeaway
Triple test certification isn’t just a label for suppliers — it’s a signpost for hospitals. It shows commitment, reliability, and a willingness to go further than the minimum. And when suppliers take the additional step to become Certified Suppliers, it makes the choice clearer still: these are partners who have invested in the most robust verification available.
For suppliers, it’s an opportunity to stand out. For hospitals, it’s a way to simplify procurement and strengthen confidence in daily use.
