Handbook of Hygiene Control in the Food Industry

Table 38.9

Test requirements and conditions

Test conditions/parameters

Requirements

Questions/limitations

Test microorganisms

∑

Readily available from culture collection

∑

Appropriate surrogate?

∑

Preparation of inoculum clearly specified

∑

Represent microbial diversity

in situ

?

∑

Pathogenicity of the test organisms;e.g.

M tuberculosis

, hepatitis B virus, TDEs?

∑

Inoculum size?

∑

Use of biofilm?

Test conditions

Water/growth media/diluent

∑

Composition clearly specified

∑

Representation of in use conditions (i.e. hard water)?

∑

Toxicity to test microorganisms?

∑

Need to use cells with high metabolic activity?

∑

Appropriate media for cell recovery?

Neutraliser

∑

Composition clearly specified

∑

Detrimental to test organisms?

∑

Toxicity and efficacy tests need to be conducted

∑

Use of membrane filtration?

Rinsing liquid

∑

Compatibility with membrane filter needs to

∑

Detrimental to test organisms?

be assessed

Test parameterspH/temperature/contact time

∑

Need some flexibility to reflect in use

∑

Choice of appropriate parameters to reflect usage

conditions

conditions.

∑

Change of experimental procedures?

∑

Associated costs?