Item number: 144200
amfora KT-4S DES-CONTROLler® Bioindicator
4-fold germ carrier with 4 x ATCC 6057 Ent. Faecium
- 1 strip with 4 bioindicators (4 x ATCC 6057 Enterococcus Faecium) with graded germ densities 10 to the power of 4 to 10 to the power of 7 in the individual chambers
- size of the strip approx. 17 x 4 cm
- Transport control (1 chamber with ATCC 6057, germ density 10 to the power of 7)
- Including laboratory evaluation (microbiological examination) and protocol
Suitable for self-monitoring of disinfection performance in commercial dishwashing with multi-tank / transport or single-tank dishwashing machines according to DIN SPEC 10534:2012-08 Food hygiene - Commercial machine dishwashing - Hygiene requirements, (=summary of standards DIN 10510, DIN 10511, DIN 10512 and DIN 10522).
The amfora KT-4S DES-CONTROLler® is a closed bioindicator for chemical, chemothermal and thermal disinfection equipment. Specially trained personnel are not required for testing - this not only saves money, but also time. It can be used to check disinfection devices cost-effectively and independently. Therefore, it is also particularly well suited, for example, for your own early detection.
The amfora KT-4S DES-CONTROLler® contains Enterococcus Faecium (ATCC 6057) as test germ on a germ carrier (standard cotton cloth 1×1 cm according to DIN 53919) inoculated according to DIN 53919 with a bacteria-sheep blood test soil according to the guideline of the RKI, VAH.
The germ densities in each of the 4 chambers with 10 to the power of 4 to 10 to the power of 7 are enveloped by a thermally, mechanically and chemically stable yet flexible semi-permeable membrane. This special membrane allows temperature as well as water and disinfection liquor to pass through reliably and in sufficient quantity. It is optimized with respect to recent developments on water flow pattern / water pressure in dishwashers. Heat, water and disinfection liquor thus act on the germs, but these cannot escape from the enveloping membrane !
Advantages:
- The test bacteria are safely enclosed to avoid contamination or recontamination. Contamination of the machine to be tested is excluded by the membrane. Thus, it is possible to have the tests performed by in-house personnel during daily operation. There is no need to run empty cycles, as contamination of the dishwasher to be tested is ruled out.
Re-germination of the germ carriers after the disinfection run is also not possible.
- Error results due to incorrect handling are excluded, because germs from outside cannot enter the membrane either.
Required quantities of bioindicators:
For dishwashers it is usually sufficient to use
1 x amfora KT-4S DES-CONTROLler® strip = 4 bioindicators.
Depending on the requirements, for multi-tank dishwashers also
8 bioindicators = 2 x amfora KT-4S DES-CONTROLler® strips may be required.
Equally suitable and analogously applicable e.g. for bedpan sinks or other washer-disinfectors such as instrument washers (RDG).
As a rule, 1 strip is also used here.
In all cases, it is important that the strips attached to or inserted in the wash ware or dish rack run through the same complete rinse/wash program as the program being tested for cleaning.
Note on the number of transport checks:
As a rule, each order for a KT-4S also comes with a transport control.
However, if several dishwashers are tested in one house and the bioindicators used are also returned in one shipment, only 1 transport control is required. The transport control is also evaluated and ensures that no germ reduction of the reference germs has occurred in the mail.
Frequency of testing:
Usually 1-2 annual testing of the equipment is sufficient.
Test performance:
- Use amfora KT-4S DES-CONTROLler as soon as possible after receipt. Since there are living microorganisms in the germ carriers, the test strips have a limited shelf life. Upon delivery, you will receive test strips that are ready for use for approx. 4-6 weeks, so that you remain flexible in your time planning.
- The optimal storage until use should be dry and at room temperature (preferably not higher than 35° C), no direct sunlight, recommended is e.g. a closed cabinet or drawer.
- Put the supplied TPK transport control aside unopened in the separate shipping bag. You will only need the TPK again for the return shipment. DO NOT rinse.
- Loosely tie the amfora KT-4S DES-CONTROLler to a disinfection product (handle) or to the crockery/cutlery basket) with e.g. a cable tie at both ends. If not already present, a hole can be punched in the field next to the ID No. and in the lower narrow field with the aid of a hole punch for fastening, but none of the 4 inner germ chambers must be damaged!
The germ loads are placed in the germ carrier in such a way that the highest density is located at the top of the chamber exactly below the ID No.
Safety note: The germs cannot escape if handled properly. Therefore, the membrane must not be opened or cut, so there is no risk of contamination.
- Start the rinsing/disinfection process of the dishwashing machine (with KT-4S). To do this, select the rinse program and disinfectant for which you want to prove the disinfection effect of the machine.
- Remove the amfora KT-4S DES-CONTROLlers after completion of the rinsing process.
Note: It is recommended to rinse the closed bioindicators again with water after the disinfection run. This prevents rinsing agent or rinse aid residues from remaining, thus eliminating error results.
Allow to dry for approx. 20 - 30 minutes. Any residual moisture still present has no effect on the result.
- Fill in the return form, put the used test strip back into the shipping bag, put it into an envelope together with the transport control set aside and send it back by normal mail (for your safety by registered mail).
Ideally, send the amfora KT-4S DES-CONTROLler - strips at the beginning of the week to avoid unnecessary delays in the mail.
Instructions (test procedure) as well as the required documentation for the test report will be sent to you together with the bioindicator.
- You will receive the result of the evaluation (test report) by email for your documentation.
Evaluation:
If the laboratory evaluation is negative, i.e. no sufficient disinfection effect (in this case: germ reduction by 5 log levels) is proven, suitable measures for fault rectification must be taken immediately. After the fault has been rectified by qualified personnel, a new check must be carried out.
IMPORTANT NOTE for purchase:
Please note that the bioindicators require a microbiological evaluation. For this purpose, the test strips used are prepared with a special procedure and nutrient solution. The evaluation with test protocol for your documentation is included in the price.
The test strips are only produced upon receipt of your order and are then ready for use for approx. 6 weeks. It is not possible to exchange or return them, nor is it possible to store or stock them, as the test strips, like the transport control, contain living germs and can only be used for a limited period of time.
Use the control strips as soon as possible after receipt.
Regular monitoring of the disinfection effect, among other things, is an essential part of quality assurance and self-monitoring.
Interesting facts about the amfora KT-4S DES-CONTROLler® bioindicator:
The amfora KT-4S DES-CONTROLler® is a special production of meducomp for amfora with an optimized membrane. meducomp has developed this bioindicator in cooperation with the Institute for Hygiene of the Medical University of Lübeck according to scientific standards. Years of research were successfully completed in 1994 and the final product was a closed bioindicator in its present form. The production of DES-CONTROLler® is subject to continuous quality and manufacturing control based on the international standard DIN EN ISO 9001.
The laboratory reports of an independent laboratory confirm already in 2014 in comparative tests in single tank dishwashers, multi-tank dishwashers / transport dishwashers according to DIN 10512 and 10510 as well as in household dishwashers again the advantage of the closed DES-CONTROLler® strips compared to the open bioindicators (RAMMS stainless steel platelet indicators with ATCC 6057 Enterococcus Faecium), especially with regard to lower error sources (compared to open systems) and the very easy handling.
The laboratory results show that the tested closed system as well as the open system achieve the required germ reduction in a comparable way.
Excerpt from an independent expert opinion comparing the different methods: "Due to the lower risk of contamination when used by the end customer and the non-existing risk of re-germination, the DES-CONTROLler is preferable to the open systems."
