Environmental sampling
This type of sampling is important because environmental contamination, if not properly monitored or controlled, can contribute to contamination of the finished product.
For example, in a clean room, where the concentration of airborne particles is controlled, cleaning programs ensure that the facilities are operating to the required specifications. In these controlled environments, sanitation protocols and cleaning processes are validated to remove all residues, leftover cleaning products and other potential contaminants.
In many industries, including the food industry, staff sample surfaces before production begins to ensure that cleaning and sanitizing processes are effective. In addition to cleaning the surfaces where there has been direct contact between the product and the sampling tools, it is necessary to allocate time to wash any other parts of the equipment where the samples may have become embedded. Listeria and Salmonella can remain on work surfaces and utensils for a long time. Rapid sampling tests can reveal the presence of bioluminescent adenosine triphosphate as a marker of unsanitary conditions, while microbiology tools detect bacteria that might have resisted cleaning agents, such as Listeria and Salmonella. Surface samples are also used to assess microbiological conditions during production. To do this, samples are taken during production a few hours after the start of operations.
In the livestock industry and particularly in poultry production, surface sampling is also prescribed.
To provide aseptic sampling conditions, LABPLAS offers various sampling kits and several neutralizing and non-neutralizing solutions to perform these tasks.
