Dental clinics routinely treat their waterlines, confident that their procedures are creating safety for their patients. Yet data show that one in three of those clinics still fails to meet CDC waterline standards.
Notably, the ADA recently revealed only 56% of office resources have a protocol for when there is a failed test. Relying solely on treatment without proper testing and a comprehensive waterline management program can pose a significant risk to both patients and clinicians.
Rising above those abysmal national statistics is AltaMed Dental Services, consistently receiving unprecedented 98% pass rates across 17 clinics. How? Through an innovative collaborative partnership with Agenics Labs which began last fall.
A Powerful Partnership to Ensure Patient Safety
Patient care was at the forefront of the decision. Site Dental Director Dr. Huy Than shares, “At AltaMed, we are committed to ‘Providing Quality Care Without Exception.’ By partnering with Agenics and collaborating with our Infection Prevention team to develop a comprehensive waterline policy, we are actively ensuring the highest standards of safety for our patients. Working with Agenics has been a true collaboration centered on prioritizing patient safety above all else.”
Founded in 1969 as the East LA Barrio Free Clinic, AltaMed has grown into one of the largest independent federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in the U.S. AltaMed serves more than 500,000 patients annually, with approximately 84% enrolled in Medi-Cal and 74% identifying as Hispanic or Latino. Notably, 50% of their patients live below the federal poverty level, highlighting AltaMed’s role in addressing health disparities in underserved communities.
A shared commitment to patient care grounded in scientific methods forged a powerful partnership.
“We believe that safety starts with science,” Greg Niederschulte, Managing Director at Agenics says. “By combining AltaMed’s commitment to patient care with our consultative approach, we were able to develop a protocol rooted in rigorous analysis and practical implementation that delivers reliability and peace of mind. The results speak for themselves: a waterline safety system with an exceptionally high success rate.”
A Step-by-Step Approach Grounded in Science
Agenics began working with AltaMed in the fall of 2024. The first step was to benchmark the current state of the 17 existing location sites and what they were doing for waterline maintenance. A review of previous water tests and trends was conducted. Several specific test-site locations were selected for an in-depth chemistry analysis of the water.
Agenics then worked with AltaMed to develop a customized waterline protocol, taking into consideration their history, budget, product preferences, and water chemistry. The protocol included source water changes, initial biofilm elimination, routine maintenance and testing, and automated failure remediation procedures.
Agenics then provided extensive onboarding that included foundational waterline education as well as specific training on AltaMed’s new procedures, ensuring all locations were well-equipped for success.
Even though changes at this level could be daunting, the process was seamless. Darlene Dickens-Jeffers, MSN-Ed, RN, PHN, CIC, Director of
Infection Prevention explains, “The transition process from our prior vendor to Agenics was very smooth. Our team was pleased with how quickly Agenics produced results with the detection of sulfates in our water.” Agenics identified that the sulfates were counteracting the treatment products in use and provided source water recommendations that allowed AltaMed to continue using their preferred treatment products.
Real-Time Test Data Delivery
A key component to mitigating patient risk and minimizing chair downtime is Agenics’ state-of-the-art flow cytometry test RapidCheck™.
“Some of our favorite features and capabilities of RapidCheck™ include that test results are reported almost in real time, with raw data available the next day via email and portal, allowing for immediate clinic-level responses,” says Dr. Than. “A detailed summary report follows, clearly organizing data for approximately 770 waterlines tested quarterly. It breaks down results by region and clinic, highlighting Pass, Caution, and Fail rates.” A customized results report is a complimentary component of Agenics’ testing services for large organizations.
Comprehensive Patient Safety and Expert Support
Simply treating lines every day assures nothing without testing. The only way to make sure a cleaning regimen is working is to actually test the water coming out of the unit.
“While clinical settings may vary in their needs, all are responsible for delivering safe patient care,” Dr. Than says. “Partnering with Agenics, which offers a proven plan and timely, responsive support, enhances our ability to maintain the highest standards of patient safety.”
While many clinics across the country struggle to meet CDC guidelines, AltaMed’s collaboration with Agenics Labs shows what can happen when patient care truly comes first. It is a powerful reminder that treating waterlines is not enough—by testing and verifying, you always keep safety at the center.
For a free consultation, contact Agenics at Agenics.net or phone 719-466-5592.
