2. Quantiswab study: PurPoseQuantiswab study: PurPose
To verify the quantification recovery of the
Quantiswab.
Organisms used in the study (5):
Aspergillus brasiliensis
Bacillus subtilis
Candia albicans
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Staphylococcus aureus
4. Step 1: Start by inoculating the steel coupons with the specific organism (in duplicate) and
allowing to dry for 2 hours before swabbing.
I. The bacteria is swabbed from the II. Hold sample in transport tube for 2 hours
coupon immediately onto a TSA plate.
III. Roll onto TSA IV. Bioburden the V. Bioburden the
Quantiswab tip Quantiswab sponge
with TSB & vortex with TSB & vortex
Quantiswab: study designQuantiswab: study design
6. Quantiswab: data analysisQuantiswab: data analysis
Sample Type Sample
replicate
Rolled onto
TSA
immediately
Held in transport
tube for 2 hours
then rolled onto
TSA
After swab is held
in transport tube
for 2 hours, break
tip then mix with
TSB and filter
bioburden
After held for 2
hours in transport
tube, add TSB to
swab sponge and
filter bioburden
Confirmatory
plates
% recovery % recovery % recovery % recovery
Aspergillus
brasiliensis
1 13 37% 4 12% 0 1% 2 3% 40
2 12 4 1 0 27
Bacillus subtilis 1 4 55% 0 3% 1 7% 7 38% 17
2 12 1 1 4 12
Candia albicans 1 3 5% 2 2% 0 0% 0 1% 29
2 2 0 0 1 63
Staphylococcus
aureus
1 26 36% 1 2% 4 10% 2 2% 45
2 22 2 9 1 87
Pseudomonas
aeruginosa
1 14 17% 0 2% 3 2% 0 2% 49
2 7 2 0 2 73
Negative
control
N/A 0 0 0 0
7. Quantiswab: ChallengesQuantiswab: Challenges
1. Getting 70% target recovery for the organisms.
- Does the direction of the swabbing effect the amount being taken
picked up from the coupon?
- How many turns of the swab is required to get the full count of the
inoculum?
8. Unfortunately, none of the % recoveries from the bacteria samples reached
the target % recovery range between 70-130% level (referring to CQC085_004).
- If the recovery level is less than 20% the data is invalid and should be
repeated.
Overall conducting the Quantiswab study was a great learning experience!
I was able to work inside the BSC hood, which helped me understand the important
of aseptic techniques.
Also – this was good practice with using the Milliflex and bioburden filtration
method.
Quantiswab: ConClusionQuantiswab: ConClusion
9. Thank you so much for having me as
your summer intern. It was such a
pleasure to work with all of you!
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