BILLERICA, Mass. - EMD Millipore announced the launch of Vegetable Contact Agar + LTHTh - ICRplus, a ready-to-use plate ideal for environmental monitoring of isolators and clean rooms.
The plate is designed to determine the microbial count present on a surface, and because its agar is of non-animal origin, the device minimizes the risk of animal spongiform encephalopathy (TSe/BSE) transmission, the company said.
The Vegetable Contact Agar + LTHTh - ICRplus determines a surface's count of bacteria, yeasts and mold by promoting efficient microbial growth under both aerobic and anaerobic incubation conditions, according to EMD Millipore. A series of neutralizers will counteract a variety of disinfectants, allowing microorganisms to grow even if the surface of the agar contains residual amounts of disinfectant, EMD said. The device has a long shelf-life and can be stored at room temperature.
"Our new vegetable-based contact agar is designed to ensure safety by reducing contamination risks during the manufacture of biopharmaceutical drugs and other medicinal products," said Dr. Yvonne Hochheimer, project manager, EMD Millipore. "It will further our portfolio of vegetable-based products such as the ready-to-use Vegetable Peptone Broth for media fills and increase the choice of high-quality products for our customers."