toxicityindia

Microbiological Studies

Microbiological Studies

IIRT is a renowned service provider to various industries for microbiological testing. The microbiological test done here assures that the tested product should be the quality product and safe to consume. Our microbiological testing also checks the meeting of the product quality measures as per the product specific standards. All microbiological testing done at IIRT is to assures that the product is free from disease-causing contaminants and can be consumed.

Microbiological testing is necessary for contamination detection and to ensure that the quality standards are met. Microbial testing is the most important testing against disease-causing bacteria and toxins. The microbiological testing is completely under public interest.

Another important reason for microbiological testing is that it prevents the spread of dangerous bacteria that can be the cause of the serious illness or death. Food testing, water testing, USP testing, and pharmaceutical tests are commonly done microbial test.

Microbiological testing service is an important requirement for many industries especially those where products, their manufacturing processes and human health negatively affected by the presence in the product and at places like South Africa and Kenya. IIRT due to its accuracy in investigation report has gained popularity and is recognised as authentic centre for microbiological testing in Kenya and South Africa along with India.

Microbiological testing is a widely studied subject who is just not restricted to the study of bacteria, fungi, parasites, algae, enzymes and viruses. Our bodies are dependent on microorganisms in the form of good bacteria to help us digest food. As we all know that probiotics and prebiotics are used to improve our health by helping our digestive system. In microbiological testing, we are working on the bad microorganisms which are the reasons for the serious human illness. In microbiological testing wide range of testing media is involved, such as water, food, air, soil, animals and the human body. It is also associated with study of the immune system.

We have an expertise team who is well versed with in the subject and with their knowledge and experience they assure the right testing in the well-equipped laboratory with the highest accuracy rate in their investigation reports.

Microbiological laboratory at IIRT undertakes quality inspection and certification for industries associated with raw and processed food, drugs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and water. The lab is well equipped, with state-of-the-art facilities and experienced scientists. The lab provides the following services.

  • Product Quality Certification
  • Projects
  • Consultancy
  • Training
  • Detection Of Pathogens
  • Enumeration of Spoilage Micro-Flora
  • Residual Anti-Microbial Substances
  • Bacterial Enterotoxins
  • Mycotoxins
  • Disinfection Efficacy
  • Preservative Efficacy
  • Potency of Antibiotics And Vitamins
  • Sterility Testing And Bio-Burden
  • Microbiological Monitoring of Indoor Air
  • Anti Microbial efficacy of nano technology based devices/filters.

Product Quality Inspection And Certification

  • Detection Of Pathogens
  • Enumeration of Spoilage Micro-Flora
  • Residual Anti-Microbial Substances
  • Bacterial Enterotoxins
  • Mycotoxins
  • Disinfection Efficacy
  • Preservative Efficacy
  • Potency of Antibiotics And Vitamins
  • Sterility Testing And Bio-Burden
  • Microbiological Monitoring of Indoor Air
  • Anti Microbial efficacy of nano technology based devices/filters.

Detection Of Pathogens Name Of The Pathogens

  • Escherichia coli
  • Escherichia coli O157
  • Vibrio cholera
  • Vibrio parahaemolyticus
  • Pathogenic streptococci
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Legionella
  • Campylobacter jejuni
  • Clostridium perfringens
  • Yersinia enterocolitica
  • Bacillus cereus
  • Salmonella
  • Shigella
  • Listeria monocytogenes

Protocols /Techniques Followed

  • FDA-BAM
  • APHA
  • BIS
  • ASTM
  • AOAC
  • ELISA
  • Immuno Enrichment
  • Immuno Capture
  • Conventional Methods

Enumeration Of Spoilage Microbes

Micro-organisms are ubiquitous in nature. Quality and shelf life of any product depends on presence and nature of micro-organisms contained in it. Under favourable conditions these micro organisms proliferate and result in loss of product quality. Microbiological monitoring is an essential part of quality control. IIRT plays an important role in testing and certification.

Test Parameters

  • Standard Plate Count
  • Coliform / Faecal Coliforms
  • Psychrophilic and Thermophilic
  • Aerobic and an-aerobic spore formers
  • Rope Spore Count
  • Anaerobic Bacteria
  • Sulphite Reducing Bacteria
  • Sulphur and Iron Bacteria
  • Yeast and Moulds

Residual Anti-Microbial Substances

Food-producing animals are given antimicrobial drugs for prevention of disease and for their well being. The residues of these antimicrobial drugs remain in and on the body of the animals.

Following anti-microbial residues are being tested at ppb levels using ELISA techniques.

  • Tetracyclines
  • Sulfonamides
  • Streptomycin
  • Chloramphenicol
  • Gentamycin
  • Neomycin
  • Nitrofurans etc .

Mycotoxins

Mycotoxins are carcinogenic, highly toxic metabolites of fungi like Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. They are toxic even in trace quantities.

  • Aflatoxins -Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, M1
  • Fumonisin
  • Deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin)
  • Ochratoxin A
  • Zearalenone
  • T-2 toxin etc.

IIRT undertakes the analysis of above toxic compounds/metabolites using sensitive techniques such as HPLC, HPTLC,LCMS-MS & ELISA at sub ppb levels

Bacterial Enterotoxins

Bacteria produces Enterotoxins as a part of their metabolic activities. Some of them are heat labile while others are heat stable in nature. Even severe food processing treatments can not eradicate these toxicants and may result in food intoxication.

IIRT undertakes testing of the following Enterotoxins in food and food products.

  • Bacillus cereus Diarrhoeal enterotoxins
  • Staphylococcal enterotoxins

Sterility Testing

Sterility is a mandatory requirement for all injectables, ophthalmic preparations and surgical devices. Sterility test is conducted in accordance with various pharmacopoeia viz.. IP, USP, BP etc. Following products are being tested.

  • Parenteral Preparations (Injectables)
  • Non-parenteral Preparations (Ophthalmic)
  • Mechanical Contraceptives
  • Surgical dressings and Devices
  • Vaccines

Bioburden Estimation

Terminally sterilized products are assessed for their microbial loads prior to sterilization. This helps in standardization of sterilization loads. IIRT also undertakes method validation studies for bio-burden estimation in surgical devices.

Monitoring of Indoor Air

IIRT carries out air-monitoring studies for presence of microbes. Services are provided in the following areas.

  • Storage Godowns
  • Hotels/Restaurants
  • Food Processing/Packaging Areas
  • Clean Rooms/Clean Air Devices
  • Operation Theatres and Intensive care units in hospitals

Anti Bacterial Efficacy of Nanotechnology based devices/filters

Nanotechnology based devices are the ones which show efficacy even while working on nano scale(one billionth). Various devices are based on this technology such as washing machines, refrigerators, AC etc. Similarly filters are used for water purification and are based on various techniques like UV-disinfection, ozonization, ion exchange and membrane filtration. Filters are checked for anti bacterial efficacy against a number of challenge organisms like E.coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas and Micrococcus luteus.

Preservative Efficacy

Nanotechnology In pharmaceutical, herbal and cosmetic formulations, various anti-microbial substances are added to arrest microbial activity and extend shelf life of the products. The effectiveness of these substances are evaluated as per USP protocols. Selection of challenge micro-organisms include gram positive and gram negative bacteria, spore formers, yeast and fungi.

Disinfection Efficacy

The Phenolic and non-phenolic type disinfectants are being tested for their germicidal value as per National and International protocols.

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