Diane's comment about lungs made me think of the big news in Baltimore a few
weeks ago when the filters on the bronchiscopes weren't working properly or
were defective and people apparently got infected, two people even died. You
just don't know what may or may not be harboring in previously  used
equipment. My concern about used pumps is not so much the contamination
issue though, but the fact that moters wear down over time and many used
pumps are simply not as effective.  I work in a hospital based lactation
center where we both rent and sell pumps, as a service to our clients we
will test used pumps with a pressure guage so that they can see how
effectively the pump may be working.  I have seen used pumps where the
suction was just fine (210-220mm pressure) but I more frequently see older
pumps that are only  reaching 150-180mm.  I have also noticed that the
motors are starting to whine. So my concern for the mom buying a used pump
would not be the contamination issue that FDA warns about as much as it
would be the ability of the pump to adequately stimulate and empty her
breasts. Anyone else notrice this too??
Peg Merrill, IBCLC

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html