Environmental sampling sponges and wipes

Sterile sponges and wipes are used for sampling environmental surfaces or animal carcasses for subsequent microbiological analysis to detect pathogens.

They are supplied with sterile gloves, or with bags that act as sterile gloves, which help the operator perform sampling while avoiding cross-contamination. For sanitized surfaces, sponges and wipes should be paired with solutions containing neutralizing agents.

Sterile sponges

Sampling sponges are available in various formats:

dry
dry combined with tubes containing BPW, MRD, or neutralizing solutions (ISO 18593 – 17604 – 6887)
pre-moistened with BPW, MRD, or neutralizing solutions (ISO 18593 – 17604 – 6887)

Polywipe sponges measure 5 × 10 cm.

Sterile wipes

Sampling wipes are available in various formats:

dry
dry combined with tubes containing BPW, MRD, or neutralizing solutions (ISO 18593 – 17604 – 6887)
pre-moistened with BPW, MRD, or neutralizing solutions (ISO 18593 – 17604 – 6887)

Sponges for sampling disinfected surfaces

Sponges Polywipe 5x10 cm

Wipes for sampling disinfected surfaces

How to sample surfaces with sponges or wipes

The sponges or wipes are suitable for sampling large surfaces (> 100 cm²), smooth, even non-flat, difficult to reach places, carcasses, even for high contamination.

Procedure

Before use, sponges and wipes are moistened with a diluent to increase the effectiveness of sampling, ensuring that there is no excess liquid when smearing the surface, which is usually delimited with a sterile 10x10 cm square.

The sampling is carried out over the entire delimited area, passing the sponge or wipe over the surface in a horizontal, vertical and diagonal direction approximately 10 times in each direction.

After collection, the sponge or wipe must be placed in a sterile bag with the addition of transport medium or diluent, from which, after a passage in the Stomacher, a portion will be taken to be sown on the culture medium.

In the case of qualitative analyzes (Salmonella and Listeria), the sponge is enriched with an adequate pre-enrichment in order to recover the cells that may have suffered sublethal damage.

The sample must be examined within 24 hours.

Kit for monitoring hygiene on surfaces

Posted in: Technical guides

January 30th 2024

Kit for checking the cleanliness of work surfaces and equipment, in all areas. They range from swabs and sponges, to kits for the detection of proteins, ATP and allergens, to contact plates and rapid kits for the detection of pathogens.
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Kit for microbiological sampling

Posted in: Technical guides

January 30th 2024

Sponges, cloths, swabs and shoe covers to sample surfaces for the purposes of subsequent microbiological analysis. Wide range of dry sterile kits or with different neutralizing solutions.
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