Cooking Chicken? Safeguard Against Salmonella

A recent outbreak of salmonella linked to Foster Farms chicken, discovered in October, has resulted in more than 300 people becoming ill across the country. This alarming incident has spurred calls for people to be extra careful when handling and preparing the raw chicken they purchase in order to minimize the risk of infection.

The Difference Between Healthy Candida and Candida Overgrowth

When most people hear the word Candida, they think of itching, headaches, depression and overall ill health. While Candida does deserve some of the bad reputation it gets, lately some of the reports about Candida are completely baseless and totally false. It has caused the public to believe a lot of incorrect information and to take precautions that are completely unnecessary. People have gone on "yeast free diets" to detoxify their bodies of candida.

Do Antibacterial Soaps Do More Harm Than Good?

Many hand soaps, body soaps, dishwashing liquids, kitchen cleaners, and other soaps claim to be antibacterial, i.e. capable of killing the bacteria on the surfaces they touch. However, these claims may be called into question if a new rule proposed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is officially implemented.

Is Labeling of GMOs Accurate?

With each passing year, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are gaining prominence, so it is important to understand exactly what they are and some of the related issues. For a plant to be considered GMO, some sort of genetic engineering has to have gone into its husbandry; the most common crops linked to this label are canola, corn, cotton and soybeans. The most frequent modification produces a resistance to the toxic effects of herbicide. The purpose of this is to help farmers produce more crops with less work. In 2006, 102 million hectares included genetically modified crops worldwide, and the number has only grown since. The United States has recently approached 60 million hectares.

The Role of Rapid Microbiological Testing in the Cosmetics Industry

Rapid microbiological testing plays an important role in the cosmetics, toiletries, and personal care industries. Microorganisms can cause spoilage or unwanted chemical changes, and can potentially harm consumers using the product. Cosmetics testing assures that cosmetic, personal care, health and beauty products are free of harmful microorganisms and safe for consumer use. These rapid microbiology methods provide a simple and time-saving way to demonstrate product quality that take less time compared to traditional culture-based methods.

Suitability Testing's Role in Modern Rapid Microbiology Testing Systems

Among the most critical aspects of controlling the manufacturing process and providing microbiology quality assurance in the production process is maintaining the proper use and application of key testing procedures that were established during the research and development phase. Conventional methods used to monitor the performance of analytical procedures range from the use of control samples with known values for method validation, to the use of titration blanks, periodic calibration and instrument qualification. In addition, many test procedures can be monitored using system suitability tests.

The Crucial Role of Microbiology Testing in the Expanding Pharmaceutical Industry

Over the years, the U.S. has remained the world’s biggest market for pharmaceutical products and the global leader in biopharmaceutical research. In fact, the massive U.S. pharmaceutical industry accounts for about 80 percent of all research and development in biotechnology in the world. The United States National Institute of Health claims that there are approximately 140,000 clinical trials underway for pharmaceutical products awaiting FDA approval, which the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacture of America (PhRMA) claims to have an annual value of over $67 billion.  

10 Assays for Simplified, Rapid, Automated Microbiology Testing

Through rapid automated microbiology systems, various industries can increase throughput and plant efficiency in the quality assurance of their products, as per the new requirements of the FDA. Each system comprises instruments that can test multiple, individual assay vials; software for the rapid and real-time transfer of results; and disposable vials for use in required microbiological assays. 10 vials are described below: 

Understanding Environmental Monitoring in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Many microbiologists believe that the most critical sources of contamination in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries are raw materials and water. While these are important, effective quality assurance practices also need to include environmental monitoring. Many microorganisms exist in the atmosphere and on almost all surfaces. When left unattended, they can be a serious cause of infection and contaminate sensitive manufacturing operations. Besides the fact that proper control of the environmental conditions where manufacturing takes place is an FDA requirement, manufacturers also take environmental monitoring seriously because it is a crucial step in safeguarding and ensuring high-quality products. 

Water Testing: Rapid Detection Methods for Heterotrophic Bacteria

Bacterial growth in water distribution systems is a commonly used indication of potential health issues. Gaining an accurate assessment of the heterotrophic bacteria count is crucial for determining how effective water treatment systems are working. Unfortunately traditional testing methods for heterotrophic bacteria are often inaccurate and slow. Below you can discover some of the primary limitations of heterotrophic bacteria testing methods and why advanced rapid detection systems have been developed.