A self-contained biological indicator is provided. The biological indicator includes a housing having at least one liquid-impermeable wall that forms an opening into a compartment. Disposed in the housing are a plurality of test microorganisms; an aqueous liquid medium disposed in an openable container; and a pH indicator dye substrate having a pH indicator dye bound thereto. The pH indicator is not disposed in or in liquid contact with the aqueous liquid medium. The biological indicator further comprises a nutrient composition that facilitates germination and/or outgrowth of the test microorganism, if viable; The nutrient composition can be disposed in the housing or is disposed in the openable container that is in selective fluid communication with the compartment.

A self-contained biological indicator is provided. The biological indicator includes a housing having at least one liquid-impermeable wall that forms an opening into a compartment. Disposed in the housing are a plurality of test microorganisms; an aqueous liquid medium disposed in an openable container; and a pH indicator dye substrate having a pH indicator dye bound thereto. The pH indicator is not disposed in or in liquid contact with the aqueous liquid medium. The biological indicator further comprises a nutrient composition that facilitates germination and/or outgrowth of the test microorganism, if viable; The nutrient composition can be disposed in the housing or is disposed in the openable container that is in selective fluid communication with the compartment.

The invention relates to an aerosol product exposure system comprising an exposure chamber intended to receive an aerosol product, an aerosol product diffusion device comprising a source of aerosol product to be sprayed connected to an aerosol generator, said aerosol generator cooperating with a desiccator so as to at least partially eliminate the moisture from the aerosol product, at least one supply duct intended to bring the aerosol product into the exposure chamber. Such a system can in particular be used to test the integrity of a container and/or the antimicrobial activity of a product of interest.

The invention relates to an aerosol product exposure system comprising an exposure chamber intended to receive an aerosol product, an aerosol product diffusion device comprising a source of aerosol product to be sprayed connected to an aerosol generator, said aerosol generator cooperating with a desiccator so as to at least partially eliminate the moisture from the aerosol product, at least one supply duct intended to bring the aerosol product into the exposure chamber. Such a system can in particular be used to test the integrity of a container and/or the antimicrobial activity of a product of interest.

A biological indicator includes: a BI housing; a germinant container inside the BI housing and housing a germinant composition; a germinant releaser configured to release the germinant composition from the germinant container; a germinant releaser support supporting the germinant releaser and configured to bring the germinant releaser into contact with the germinant container upon application of a force to the germinant releaser support or the germinant container; a first spore carrier inside the BI housing, the first spore carrier having a plurality of spores deposited at a first surface thereof; and an imaging window at a first surface of the BI housing. A BI reader is configured to detect and quantify the presence of live spores in the BI, and includes an excitation source, a camera for capturing images of the spores over time, and a processor for analyzing the images to determine the presence of live spores.

A biological indicator includes: a BI housing; a germinant container inside the BI housing and housing a germinant composition; a germinant releaser configured to release the germinant composition from the germinant container; a germinant releaser support supporting the germinant releaser and configured to bring the germinant releaser into contact with the germinant container upon application of a force to the germinant releaser support or the germinant container; a first spore carrier inside the BI housing, the first spore carrier having a plurality of spores deposited at a first surface thereof; and an imaging window at a first surface of the BI housing. A BI reader is configured to detect and quantify the presence of live spores in the BI, and includes an excitation source, a camera for capturing images of the spores over time, and a processor for analyzing the images to determine the presence of live spores.

Methods of evaluating the antimicrobial efficacy of a hard surface disinfectant or sanitizer and test articles are disclosed. An example method may include removing a preserved antimicrobial test article from a sealed container. The preserved antimicrobial test article may comprise a non-water soluble substrate and a thin microbial layer attached to the substrate comprising viable microbial material, a stabilizing mixture, and a residual water content of less than 5.0%. The method may also include contacting the preserved antimicrobial test article with a predetermined amount of the test substance without rehydrating the preserved microbial article and without detaching the layer comprising the viable microbial material from the substrate prior to contact with the test substance.

Dioxetane compounds represented by Formula I below, and methods of using the dioxetane compounds in the detection of presence or absence, quantification, and identification of microorganisms including bacteria, bacterial fragments (e.g., LPS, endotoxin), viruses, and fungi by means of chemiluminescence. ##STR00001##

Dioxetane compounds represented by Formula I below, and methods of using the dioxetane compounds in the detection of presence or absence, quantification, and identification of microorganisms including bacteria, bacterial fragments (e.g., LPS, endotoxin), viruses, and fungi by means of chemiluminescence. ##STR00001##

A self-contained sterilization process biological indicator is provided. The indicator includes a housing. Test microorganisms disposed in the housing are enveloped by a wax composition. The wax composition comprises a long-chain (greater than C22) linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl alcohol, wherein the alkyl or alkenyl alcohol is not linked through an ester bond or an ether bond to a short chain alkyl or aryl (C1-C6) group, wherein the alkyl or alkenyl alcohol is not linked through an ester bond or an ether bond to a long chain (C8-C36) alkyl or alkenyl group, wherein the alkyl or alkenyl alcohol is not linked through an amide bond to a linear or branched long chain (C8-C36) alkyl or alkenyl amine or acid. The wax composition has a melting point between 78° C. and 120° C. Also contained in the housing are a nutrient composition and an openable container containing a liquid medium.