Current methods for detection of microbial contaminants on surfaces use swabbing/wiping to extract microbes for analysis. This removes easily transferable microbes but fails to extract microbes living in biofilms, which reduces sensitivity and may mask the true degree of contamination. The current disclosure provides an enzyme cocktail that disrupts the biofilm and improves the extraction of live microbes for analysis. Applicant's enzyme system is particularly useful for the application to a variety of surfaces, but particularly on a variety of food processing surfaces. Utilization of Applicant's enzyme cocktail makes possible the extraction of a representative sample of live microorganisms present on a surface, including film forming microorganisms, without affecting non-film forming microorganisms also present on a surface.

A SCBI useful in ambient air pressure systems is disclosed. The SCBI includes a body which serves as the culture tube, a glass media ampoule, an inoculated stainless steel disc positioned on the top of the glass media ampoule so that the spores are close to the top/opening of the SCBI, filter paper on the top of the body and overlying the disc, and a cap.

A SCBI useful in ambient air pressure systems is disclosed. The SCBI includes a body which serves as the culture tube, a glass media ampoule, an inoculated stainless steel disc positioned on the top of the glass media ampoule so that the spores are close to the top/opening of the SCBI, filter paper on the top of the body and overlying the disc, and a cap.

A self-contained biological sterilization indicator comprises: a housing; bacterial spores comprising, and/or capable of producing, an enzyme capable of catalyzing cleavage of an enzyme substrate; and a frangible container containing a composition, wherein the composition comprises the enzyme substrate, wherein if the frangible container is broken the composition will contact the bacterial spores to form a mixture having an initial pH in the range from 6.0 to 9.0. The enzyme substrate comprises a fluorinated 4′-alkylumbelliferyl α-D-glucopyranoside represented by the structural formula (I) wherein one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is F and the other is H, and R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms. A biological sterilization indicator comprising a kit containing isolated components comprising (i) bacterial spores comprising, and/or capable of producing, an enzyme capable of catalyzing cleavage of the enzyme substrate and a method of assessing efficacy of a sterilization process are also disclosed.

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A self-contained biological sterilization indicator comprises: a housing; bacterial spores comprising, and/or capable of producing, an enzyme capable of catalyzing cleavage of an enzyme substrate; and a frangible container containing a composition, wherein the composition comprises the enzyme substrate, wherein if the frangible container is broken the composition will contact the bacterial spores to form a mixture having an initial pH in the range from 6.0 to 9.0. The enzyme substrate comprises a fluorinated 4′-alkylumbelliferyl α-D-glucopyranoside represented by the structural formula (I) wherein one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is F and the other is H, and R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms. A biological sterilization indicator comprising a kit containing isolated components comprising (i) bacterial spores comprising, and/or capable of producing, an enzyme capable of catalyzing cleavage of the enzyme substrate and a method of assessing efficacy of a sterilization process are also disclosed.

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Inoculating systems/devices, methods for inoculating a target, and coating methods are disclosed. An example inoculating system may include an inoculating member having a transfer region and a handle region. A pre-determined quantity of viable microorganisms may be disposed on the transfer region. The inoculating member may be configured to transfer the pre-determined quantity of viable microorganisms to a target during an inoculation operation without having to rehydrate the pre-determined quantity of viable microorganisms prior to the inoculating operation.

The invention relates to a method for detecting contaminants of glucose polymers, said contaminants being capable of acting in synergy with one another so as to trigger an inflammatory reaction, characterized in that it comprises an in vitro inflammatory response test using modified cell lines.

The invention relates to a method for detecting contaminants of glucose polymers, said contaminants being capable of acting in synergy with one another so as to trigger an inflammatory reaction, characterized in that it comprises an in vitro inflammatory response test using modified cell lines.

The invention provides a device for growing cells—referred to as a cassette. The cell culturing device includes a housing that contains a lid having an optically clear window; a fluid distribution channel; a sample injection port fluidically connected to the fluid distribution channel; a base housing a porous media pad; and a media injection port fluidically connected to the media pad. The lid mates to the base to form a sterile seal; the fluid distribution channel is disposed over the media pad, which is viewable through the optical window; and sample fluid introduced into the fluid distribution channel is distributed evenly to the media pad, e.g., via a plurality of channels. The invention also provides kits that include cassettes of the invention and a tube set.

The invention provides a device for growing cells—referred to as a cassette. The cell culturing device includes a housing that contains a lid having an optically clear window; a fluid distribution channel; a sample injection port fluidically connected to the fluid distribution channel; a base housing a porous media pad; and a media injection port fluidically connected to the media pad. The lid mates to the base to form a sterile seal; the fluid distribution channel is disposed over the media pad, which is viewable through the optical window; and sample fluid introduced into the fluid distribution channel is distributed evenly to the media pad, e.g., via a plurality of channels. The invention also provides kits that include cassettes of the invention and a tube set.