Workplace & health Screening
Surface Hygiene Monitoring & testing
Introduction
The Food and Environmental Laboratory has an established program for surface hygiene testing. Tests are performed in the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) endorsed laboratory by a team of highly trained and experienced analysts using the appropriate methods.
Methods
There are a number of options available for surface hygiene testing as follows:
- PRO-Clean™
PRO-Clean is a quick and easy way to accurately monitor the cleanliness of surfaces to help ensure product quality. PRO-Clean detects protein residues left on a surface after cleaning. Simply swab a surface, release the reagent and if protein residue is present the reagent will turn purple. The colour change provides a semiquantitive measure of the surface cleanliness. The more contamination present, the quicker the colour change to purple and the darker the colour. PRO-Clean quickly validates the hygiene of a surface, allowing immediate corrective action to be taken if necessary.
“PRO-Clean replaces the Swab'N'Check Hygiene Monitoring Kit”
- Swabbing by Australian Standard Method
This "traditional" method involves swabbing an area with a sterile swab and transferring the swab onto a sterile nutrient agar dish. After 3 days incubation, any bacteria which have been transferred will grow and can then be counted. The Australian Standard Method suggests that 6 organisms/sq cm is an acceptable level of detection. All the materials, including sterile swabs, nutrient agar plates and saline, are provided at no cost. Alternatively, if you have the facilities, you may wish to conduct the tests on-site. Medvet can supply you with the materials you need.
- Petrifilm™
Petrifilm™ plates can be used in various ways including direct contact plates or as air exposure plates. However, you will need to rehydrate the Petrifilm™ plates with 1ml of sterile diluent such as Buffered Peptone Water, about 30 minutes before you want to use the plates. After 24 hours incubation, any bacteria which have been transferred to the Petrifilm™ will grow and can be counted.
- Dip Slide
Dip slides are a convenient easy to use alternative to other methods for surface hygiene checks. Both sides of the slide can be used and results can be obtained after 24 hours incubation.