Products -> SGMStrip^® Spore Strip Biological Indicator

SGMStrip is a conventional paper strip biological indicator for monitoring steam, low temperature steam formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, dry heat, chlorine dioxide, and gamma radiation industrial sterilization processes.

SGMStrip contains bacterial spores on a filter paper carrier sealed within a convenient, peel-open envelope.

To use an SGMStrip, simply place the envelope inside a product or product package. This "inoculated package" is placed in a sterilizer and processed. Upon removal from the sterilizer, the inoculated package is sent to the microbiology laboratory for transfer of the SGMStrip. The BI is to be aseptically cultured in soybean casein digest medium, and incubated at the appropriate temperature for 7 days.

Availability

Use

Please follow instructions provided with each bag of SGMStrip biological indicators.

1. Place the spore strip biological indicator inside product or product package and place in the most difficult to sterilize location of the load.
2. Place a sufficient number of spore strips throughout the load to sterilize. NOTE: This number will vary depending on the regulations being met but never less than two is recommended. Ten units per cycle is commonly used.
3. Expose the load to the sterilization cycle.
4. Following exposure, remove the spore strip biological indicators as soon as the load cools or has been aerated. Transfer the spore strips to the laboratory for culture.
5. In the laboratory:
   Using strict aseptic techniques and working in a Class 100 certified work station, transfer each biological indicator to an appropriate tube of culture medium (Soybean casein digest broth).
6. Incubate the strips at the appropriate temperature for seven days.
   a) Bacillus atrophaeus – ethylene oxide 30-35°C
   b) Bacillus pumilus – radiation 30-35°C
   c) Geobacillus stearothermophilus – steam 55-60°C
7. If the spores survive the sterilization cycle, the culture medium will become turbid and cloudy. NOTE: Verify all positive cultures microscopically for gram positive, spore forming rods. Biochemical characterization is not necessary.
8. Record test results.
9. Autoclave all positive samples prior to disposal.

Storage

Room temperature.

Expiration

24 months from date of manufacture.

Certification

SGMStrip biological indicators are traceable to a recognized culture collection and certified for population, and D-value, Z-value (steam), and performance.