Calibrated Spores and Test Strips

Microbial spores are often used to study, design or validate sterilization or sanitation processes of many kinds. They can be either directly applied to equipment or packaging surfaces, or be applied as inoculated strips of inert materials such as plastic packaging, or metal foil strips with adhesive hangers.

Spore test strips are particularly useful in evaluating the various sterilization processes for aseptic processing and packaging systems. For example, strips bearing calibrated heat-resistant spores would be used to evaluate the efficacy of a heat or chemical sterilization cycle. A reasonably precise measure of the lethality of that process could be obtained from tests using strips bearing different concentrations such as 103, 104, and 105 spores placed at the same equipment location and processed simultaneously. The organism used for the tests is dictated by the type of sterilant (heat, chemical, or radiological) that is used. Sometimes a cocktail or mixture of organisms will be used.

Aseptic packaging sterilization process validations are done by inoculating containers or packaging materials with either aqueous or ethanol suspensions of spores calibrated for their resistance to the sterilant(s). The efficacy and the sterilizing value of process cycles can be inferred from tests using varying inoculum concentrations. Such validation tests are also useful in locating any problems with the uniformity of the application of the sterilant(s) so that corrective actions or redesigns can be made.

Consider IEH your source for reliable and accurately calibrated spore test strips for all of your testing needs. We can provide test materials custom-made to your specifications for virtually any food or pharmaceutical process validation application. We are uniquely trained and have the expertise to design, execute, and interpret virtually any packaging or equipment sterilization challenge.