Challenging Disinfection Procedures Aided with Novel Neutralizing Media

Encompassing products for the isolation and recovery of microorganisms from disinfectant-treated surfaces, new neutralizing media make challenge testing easy. With effective auditing of hygiene procedures an absolute necessity in many different environments, these products can help determine their effectiveness or can assist in determining the bactericidal capability of a specific disinfectant.

Neutralizing media are used primarily for the isolation and recovery of microorganisms from surfaces treated with disinfectants. These media neutralize the bactericidal and/or bacteriostatic activity of the residual disinfectant allowing any contaminating organisms to grow.

Easy to prepare, Lab M's (Bury, UK) neutralizing media range includes a variety of different formulations. Letheen broth is used to assess the bactericidal activity of preservatives in water-based cosmetics. Letheen agar enables determination of the number of colony-forming units from a hygiene swabbing protocol, and when used in conjunction with Letheen broth, potential inaccuracies caused by disinfectant carryover are avoided.

Microbial content test agar (MCTA) is recommended for the detection of microorganisms on surfaces sanitized with quaternary ammonium compounds, phenolic compounds, and formalin. D/E neutralizing agar can be used when assessing disinfectants by the disc diffusion method, while D/E neutralizing broth and D/E neutralizing broth base are both highly suited for challenge testing of disinfectants. The inclusion of bromocresol purple in D/E neutralizing broths permits a visual detection of microbial growth through a color change in the broth.

Lab M specializes in the development and production of microbiologic diagnostic products. The company provides high quality of its dehydrated culture media and chromogenic media, as well as its wide range of media supplements.

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