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03/23/2006 - Propylene Oxide EZTest BI

SGM Biotech, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of its EZTest® propylene oxide (PPO) self-contained biological indicator (SCBI) for use in monitoring and validating propylene oxide gas pasteurization of almonds, nuts and other dry food products. The Almond Board of California Food Safety document "Almond Pasteurization Using Propylene Oxide (PPO) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)" indicates that a process that kills this level of G. stearothermophilus spores equates to a five (5) log reduction of Salmonella.

The EZTest PPO biological indicator contains 10⁵ spores of Geobacillus stearothermophilus (ATCC 7953). The spore paper carrier is contained in a plastic vial with a small sealed glass amouple of culture media. This plastic vial is closed with a special vent filter that allows free exchange of gasses.

Multiple units of EZTest PPO SCBIs are placed into the center of a bin or pallet of bulk packaged almonds or other dry food materials to be pasteurized. This location is usually the coldest place of the load. If multiple pallet/bin loads are used, then it is recommended to monitor the pallets/bins that are in the "slowest-to-heat" location in the chamber. Similar type treatments for other products processed using similar gases (i.e. ethylene oxide gas for medical products) use a minimum of ten (10) BIs per load. Large chambers may require as many as 30 to 50 SCBIs per load.

The EZTest PPO SCBIs should be retrieved immediately upon removal of the pallets or bins from the chamber or as soon as it is safe for the units to be retrieved. After retrieval, the EZTest unit is easy to culture. Activate the EZTest plastic vial by placing in the convenient crusher (supplied) and gently pressing to break the media ampoule which supplies the spores with nutrients to grow if they survived the pasteurization process.

Incubate at 55-60°C for 24 hours. If the spores were killed, the media will remain purple throughout the 24 hour incubation period. If any spores survived, the media will change color to a vivid yellow. If the spores survive the process, adequate pasteurization conditions were not delivered into the center of the pallets or bins.

Reorder #: EZP/5
Packaging: 100 count box

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Read entire press release

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