Releasat is a biological indicator culturing kit containing MesaStrip paper strip biological indicators and culture tubes of specially formulated soybean casein digest culture medium containing a color indicator which turns a dramatic yellow when spores grow. Releasat culture kits are available for monitoring industrial steam, chlorine dioxide, or ethylene oxide and dry heat sterilization processes.
The color indicator provides visual results within 24 hours (steam), 48 hours (chlorine dioxide) or 72 hours (EO / DRY) as opposed to the standard seven days.
Releasat medium is used to culture the MesaStrip in place of "generic" soybean casein digest medium and provides a more rapid read-out. Each lot of Releasat culture tubes are quality control tested with appropriate MesaStrips.
Availability
| Releasat® for Steam Sterilization |
| Spore |
Incubation |
Sets/box |
Population |
Reorder # |
| G. stearothermophilus |
24 Hours at
55-60°C |
100 |
106 |
RS6/100 |
| Releasat® for Ethylene Oxide or Dry Heat Sterilization |
| Spore |
Incubation |
Sets/box |
Population |
Reorder # |
| B. atrophaeus |
72 Hours at
37±1°C |
100 |
106 |
RG/100 |
| Releasat® for Chlorine Dioxide Sterilization |
| Spore |
Incubation |
Sets/box |
Population |
Reorder # |
| B. atrophaeus |
48 Hours at
37±1°C |
50 |
106 |
RCD/50 |
Use
Please follow instructions provided with each box of Releasat.
- Place the spore strip biological indicator inside product or product package and place in the most difficult location to sterilize.
- Place a sufficient number of spore strips throughout the load to be sterilized. NOTE: Generally, a minimum of 10 units are used.
- Expose the load to the validated sterilization cycle.
- Following exposure, remove the spore strip biological indicators and transfer them to the laboratory for culture.
- In the laboratory: Using strict aseptic techniques and working in a Class 100 certified work station, transfer each biological indicator to an appropriate tube of Releasat Culture media.
- Incubate the strips in the Releasat media at 55-60°C (steam) or 37° ± 1°C (EO / ClO2). NOTE: Maintaining this temperature is critical to achieve accurate results. Their placement in an optimized growth environment is necessary to gain accurate results. The media should be observed for color change at 12 and 24 hours (steam) or 24, 48, and 72 hours (EO). If the spores survive the sterilization cycle, the Releasat media will turn from purple to yellow in 24 hours (steam), or red to yellow in 48 hours (ClO2) or 72 hours (EO).
- Record test results.
- Autoclave all positive samples prior to discarding.
Storage
Room temperature.
Expiration
12 months from date of manufacture.
Certification
MesaStrip biological indicators are traceable to a recognized culture collection and certified for population. D-value and performance using Releasat media. Each set includes MesaStrips and Releasat media.
