Seward Launches Two New Lab Products

Seward Ltd., manufacturer of a range of Stomacher laboratory paddle blenders and accessories used in sample preparation for microbiological analysis, has launched the Stomacher 4500 BAM and Insterprep.

The heavy-duty Stomacher 4500 BAM laboratory blender is specifically designed for large volume food testing procedures, such as the FDA's Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM), where 375g composite samples are required for the microbiological analyses of food. As the newest addition to Seward’s range of Stomacher blenders, it complements the Stomacher 400 Circulator, providing food laboratories globally with a high performance, high quality blender capable of homogenising sample volumes ranging from 1000 to 4500mL, the company said. The Stomacher 4500 also has programmable settings for microbial extraction, based on the food sample under analysis.

The new Stomacher 4500 can be used for extraction from 375g composite samples, as defined by protocols such as the FDA’s BAM for the preparation of Category III food samples for Salmonella detection, where the composite sample should be combined with its pre-enrichment medium at a 1:9 sample-to-broth ratio (375g sample/3375mL pre-enrichment) with no risk of spillage. Consequently, the new large volume Stomacher enables food manufacturers to combine 15 x 25g (375g) analytical units, rather than testing each unit individually, so saving time when analysing lower risk food products. A 25g sample/225mL pre-enrichment BAM protocol remains in place for higher risk Category I and Category II foods, which would not normally be subjected to a process lethal to Salmonella between the time of sampling and consumption, for this the Stomacher 400 Circulator is ideal. The large volume Stomacher 4500 blender comes with a three-year warranty and a range of accessories including Standard (65 microns thickness; coded BA6042) and Heavy Duty (80 microns thickness; coded BA6042/HD) Stomacher bags, large size bag racks and clips.

Seward also launched a new range of instantly soluble, sterile media products – Insterprep granulated media bags and sachets, introduced to speed up and simplify sample preparation for microbiological analysis of food samples, with preparation times as low as one minute or less. Developed by Seward and HiMedia Laboratories, the Insterprep (Instant Sterile Preparation) range was created to help laboratories cut waste, increase capacity and respond to varying workflow requirements, the company said. Manufactured to ISO standards, Insterprep has been tested and proven independently by Leatherhead Food Research Agency.

Insterprep’s pre-weighed and sterile granulated media is instantly soluble, enabling fast preparation times. The Insterprep media bag range comes with the correct amount of granular media sealed in a Stomacher bag ready for instant use. The user selects the required Insterprep media bag, adds sterile water and sample and places it directly into a Stomacher laboratory blender for immediate blending. No waiting is needed for the media granules to dissolve prior to blending, so samples can be prepared in under one minute.

Also included in Seward’s new media range, Insterprep sachets contain instantly soluble sterile media granules which are ready-to-use by adding directly to the user’s own Stomacher bags. The sachets can be selected depending on the quantity and type of media required for a particular protocol. Not only does it minimize waste by having just the right amount of sterile media required for each sample, but it also eliminates contamination risk, weighing errors and laboratory bottlenecks, the company said, adding that they have low odor and powder residue, and are easy to ship and store.

Current media varieties available include Buffered Peptone Water, Max Recovery Diluent and Fraser Broth, which are frequently used in the sample preparation of food for microbiological analysis for organisms such as: Listeria, Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7 etc.

For more information on Seward products, visit www.seward.co.uk.