What is it?
After cleaning and disinfection, everything may look clean, but this cannot be verified with the naked eye. Cleaning has a visible result; disinfection does not. Bio-swab™ samples a surface on a selective medium to show the actual hygiene status. It makes invisible risks visible and provides a concrete basis for targeted corrective action.
Why measure?
- Disinfection has no visible result; only monitoring identifies bacteria left behind.
- Objective evidence for the cleaning and disinfection protocol.
- Targeted correction instead of guessing where the problem lies.
- Simple on-site use.
- Results read using reference cards, without a laboratory.
Procedure
- Sample the surface with the contact plate.
- Seal Bio-swab™ so that air cannot enter; press only along the sides to avoid pushing the plastic onto the plate.
- Place the plate in the incubator at 35 °C.
- Incubate for 24 hours, or up to 48 hours depending on the test type.
- Read the plate after 24–48 hours using the reference cards.
What it does and does not show
Bio-swab™ detects bacteria left behind. It provides no information about other residual pathogens such as viruses. A correctly implemented cleaning and disinfection protocol remains essential; Bio-swab™ is a means of checking that protocol.
Equipment required
- Item
- Bio-swab™ contact plates
- Explanation
- Sampling on a selective medium
- Item
- Incubator
- Explanation
- Incubation at 35 °C; Biosecurity BV supplies a 28.8-litre incubator with adjustable temperature
- Item
- Reference cards
- Explanation
- Reading and assessing the result
| Item | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Bio-swab™ contact plates | Sampling on a selective medium |
| Incubator | Incubation at 35 °C; Biosecurity BV supplies a 28.8-litre incubator with adjustable temperature |
| Reference cards | Reading and assessing the result |
Additional monitoring solutions
Biosecurity BV also supplies other hygiene-monitoring tools, including an inspection camera (endoscope/borescope) for checking drinking-water lines after cleaning and disinfection and sterile swab tubes with PBS buffer for microbiological surface sampling.
When should it be used?
- Check cleaning and disinfection results between production cycles.
- Verify hygiene protocols in all-in/all-out systems.
- Identify areas in a house or greenhouse where hygiene is insufficient.
- Provide evidence for quality schemes and customers.
- Perform periodic monitoring as part of the biosecurity plan.
Areas of application
Pig farming · Poultry farming · Cattle and goat farming · Horticulture · Veterinary practices · Food processing · Healthcare and industrial environments.