DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE MICROBIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF WASHING MACHINES

Abstract

The invention relates to a bioindicator and a method for using the bioindicator for microbiological testing of washing machines. The device according to the invention allows a safe, reliable, cost-effective and easy-to-use microbiological test of the disinfection performance of washing machines. The invention further relates to a use of the bioindicator and a kit comprising 10 bioindicators. In particular, the invention relates to a closed bioindicator for a verification of disinfecting washing processes.

Claims

1. Bioindicator (2) for microbiological testing of washing machines, wherein the bioindicator (2) comprises a carrier (9), the carrier (9) has reference germs, wherein the carrier is enclosed by a semi-permeable membrane (10) characterized in that the membrane (10) is a polymer membrane and has pores of a size between 0.1 m and 2 m.

2. Bioindicator (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane (10) is hydrophobic.

3. Bioindicator (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the membrane (10) is a flexible polymer membrane.

4. Bioindicator (2) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that the bioindicator (2) is flat.

5. Bioindicator (2) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that the carrier (9) is permeable on both sides for a disinfecting liquid.

6. Bioindicator (2) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that the reference germs are selected from the group Enterococcus faecium and/or Staphylococcus aureus

7. Bioindicator (2) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that the reference germs on the carrier (9) have a germ density of up to 10.sup.7.

8. Bioindicator (2) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that the membrane (10) has pores of a size of <1 m, preferably <0.6 m.

9. Bioindicator (2) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that the semipermeable polymer membrane is selected from the group comprising polysulfone, polyethersulfone, silicones, polyamide, polyamide imide, polyamide urea, polycarbonate, zeolites, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl chloride and/or polypiperazinamide.

10. Kit (1) comprising 2 to 16, preferably 4 to 16, more preferably 7 to 12, more preferably 8 to 11, in particular 10 bioindicators (2) according to one or more of the previous claims, and preferably comprising an application sheet and/or an accompanying sheet and/or at least one mailing bag.

11. A kit (1) according to claim 10, comprising two bioindicators (2), wherein a first bioindicator (2) comprises reference germs of one species, preferably Enterococcus faecium, and the second bioindicator (2) comprises reference germs of a second species, preferably Candida Albicans and/or Staphylococcus aureus.

12. Kit (1) according to claim 10, comprising 10 bioindicators (2), wherein 5 bioindicators (2) comprise reference germs of one species, preferably Enterococcus faecium, in different log levels and 5 bioindicators (2) comprise reference germs of a second species, preferably Candida Albicans and/or Staphylococcus aureus, in different log levels.

13. Kit (1) according to claim 10, wherein 2 to 8, preferably 3 to 6, particularly preferably 4 to 6, in particular 5 bioindicators (2) comprise reference germs from the group Enterococcus faecium and 2 to 8, preferably 3 to 6, particularly preferably 4 to 6, in particular 5 bioindicators (2) comprise reference germs from the group Staphylococcus aureus and wherein the number of bioindicators (2) with reference germs from one group corresponds to the number of bioindicators (2) from the other group.

14. Method for the microbiological testing of washing machines, comprising the following steps Removal of the at least one bioindicator (2), preferably according to one or more of claims 1-9, or of a kit (1), preferably according to one or more of the previous claims 10-13, from a mailing bag, Loading of the washing machine to be tested with the at least one bioindicator (2) or a kit (1), preferably together with a good to be disinfected and/or washed, Fill in the accompanying sheet, Removal and preferably drying of the at least one bioindicator (2) or the kit (1), Insert at least one bioindicator (2) or the kit (1) and the accompanying sheet into a mailing bag and return the bioindicator (2) or the kit (1) and the accompanying sheet.

15. Use of the bioindicator (2) according to one or more of claims 1 to 9 and/or a kit (1) according to one or more of claims 10 to 13 for the microbiological testing of washing machines.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATION

[0110] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic top view of a preferred embodiment of the invention comprising a kit containing 10 bioindicators for microbiological testing of washing machines.

[0111] FIG. 2 depicts a top view of a single bioindicator.

[0112] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-section of a single bioindicator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE IMAGE

[0113] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic top view of a preferred embodiment of the invention comprising a kit 1 containing 10 bioindicators 2 for microbiological testing of washing machines. The welds 3 and double welds 4 are present between the bioindicators or the small, flat elements 5 and on the outer edges 7 of kit 1. In the preferred embodiment of the kit shown, the bioindicators 2 are present in pairs next to each other. Five of these pairs 8 are grouped together in a kit. It may be preferable that one bioindicator 2 of pair 8 is provided with a reference organism of the group Enterococcus faecium and the other with a reference organism of the group Staphylococcus aureus. It may be preferred that in a top view always the left bioindicator of pair 8 is provided with one of the two reference germs and always the right bioindicator with the other. An additional structuring as shown in the preferred embodiment of kit 1 is preferred. For example, it is preferable to place the double welds 4 and the small, flat elements 5 between the lower three pairs 8 (in a top view) of bioindicators 2. Thus, for bioindicator below and above may be easily distinguished as defined in the present drawing. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, a uniquely assignable number 6 is well legibly attached to the upper edge, preferably the upper right-hand edge.

[0114] FIG. 2 depicts a top view of a single bioindicator 2, with the carrier 9 in the middle and the membrane 10 closed on the outside by a weld seam 3 around the carrier 9.

[0115] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-section of a single bioindicator 2, showing that the carrier 9 is enclosed on all sides by the membrane 10. On the sides it is preferably enclosed by a simple weld seam 3.

REFERENCE CHARACTER LIST

[0116] 1 kit [0117] 2 bioindicator [0118] 3 single weld seam [0119] 4 double weld seam [0120] 5 flat elements [0121] 6 uniquely assignable number [0122] 7 outer edges [0123] 8 pairs of bioindicators [0124] 9 carrier [0125] 10 membrane