Spore Strips

Geobacillus stearothermophilus¹ - For use in steam sterilization at 121.1°C (250° F) to 135°C (275° F), Low Temperature Steam w/Formaldehyde and Chemiclave®. After exposure to sterilant, incubate strips at 55-60°C.

Bacillus atrophaeus¹ - For use in Ethylene Oxide (600 mg/L), Dry Heat Sterilization (D-value calculated at 160°C), and formaldehyde fumigation. After exposure to sterilant, incubate strips at 30-35°C.

Bacillus pumilus¹ - Used for validation of irradiation sterilization processes. After exposure to sterilant, incubate strips at 30-35°C.

Combined Species Spore Strips - G. stearothermophilus¹ (10⁵) and B. atrophaeus¹ (10⁶) on each strip. For use in Steam, EO, Dry Heat or Chemiclave® sterilizers. Current EN guidelines do not recommend the use of Combined species spore strips. In-house studies have shown the performance of dual species strips to be essentially equivalent to single species spore strips made from the same spore batch.

Specifications

Spore strips are in Schleicher & Schuell filter paper (#470) - size 6.4mm x 38.1mm - packaged in a peel open glassine paper pouch. Glassine paper is permeable to sterilant but resistant to moisture and air at ambient temperature/pressure. This allows the user to transport the strip within the glassine from the sterilizer to a laminar flow hood, where it can be transferred into recovery medium. Populations of strips are typically from 1.0 X 10ⁿ to 4.0 X 10ⁿ. Expiration is two years from date of manufacture. Lot number and expiration date are printed on each glassine.

Certification

Spore strips are certified for Species, Population, D-value, z-value (where appropriate) and Expiry. D-values are within suggested ranges mentioned in USP and suitable for hospital use. Use of any other medium may adversely affect results.

Packaging

1) Bags of 100 strips - clear plastic re-sealable bag

Hospital Pack - 25 Envelopes (Tests) - Each test consists of three spore strips - two to be placed in the sterilizer and one control. The two strips exposed in the sterilizer are to be returned to the envelope with the unexposed strip and all three are to be sent to the hospital micro lab for in-house culturing. The envelope has space for the technician to write pertinent information about the sterilizer load, contents and test results. Available with G. stearothermophilus, B. atrophaeus, or Combined species strips.

3) Monitoring Service (for domestic clients only) - . Service comes with 12 or 24 envelopes each containing a test and control strip. Available with Combined species strips only.