Elective surgeries will resume at Chinook Regional Hospital on Monday after Alberta Health Services officials identified a fine dark residue which had been located on surgical instruments earlier this week.

The residue is related to a stainless steel polishing product, used in the cleaning and sterilization process, and poses no risk to patients.

“I am confident the residue does not and never did pose a risk to patients,” said Dr. Karin Goodison, Medical Officer of Health for AHS South Zone. “Patient safety is always our uppermost concern. We exercised caution in our approach to this matter until we were certain there was no risk.”

112 elective procedures which had been scheduled for Thursday or Friday were postponed during the investigation into the residue.

Emergency surgeries were conducted using instruments sterilized offsite.

Chinook Regional Hospital staff will modify their use of the polishing agent.