CONTACT PLATE MEDIA

Cat. no. P09	Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB), 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P12	Middlebrook 7H11 Agar, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P13	D/E Neutralizing Agar, Irradiated, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag, 20 plates/box
Cat. no. P15	PLET Agar, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P16	Baird-Parker Agar, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P24	Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) with Lecithin and Tween®, Irradiated, 15x60mm Contact Plate, Double Bagged	10 plates/bag, 20 plates/box
Cat. no. P25	Sabouraud Dextrose (SabDex) Agar with Lecithin and Tween®, Irradiated, 15x60mm Contact Plate, Double Bagged	10 plates/bag, 20 plates/box
Cat. no. P32	R2A Agar, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P33	Blood Agar 5%, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P34	Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) with Lecithin and Tween®, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P34D	Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) with Lecithin and Tween®, 15x60mm Contact Plate, Double Bagged	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P36	Sabouraud Dextrose (SabDex) Agar, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P42	Rose Bengal Agar with Chloramphenicol, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P47	MacConkey Agar, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P51	Standard Methods Agar with Lecithin and Tween®, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P54	R2A Agar with D/E, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P56	Standard Methods Agar, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P62	Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) with Lecithin and Tween®, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P67	Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) with Sodium Thiosulfate, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P74	Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) with Lecithin and Tween®, Irradiated, 15x60mm Contact Plate, Triple Bagged*	10 plates/bag, 20 plates/box
Cat. no. P75	Sabouraud Dextrose (SabDex) with Lecithin and Tween®, Irradiated, 15x60mm Contact Plate, Triple Bagged*	10 plates/bag, 20 plates/box
Cat. no. P80	Malt Extract Agar with Chloramphenicol, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P83	Modified Cellulose Agar, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P93	Malt Extract Agar, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P98	Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P99	D/E Neutralizing Agar, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
Cat. no. P251	BCYE Agar, 15x60mm Contact Plate	10 plates/bag
* A fourth sterile sample bag is included for packaging after the sample is collected.

INTENDED USE

Hardy Diagnostics Contact Plate Media is recommended for use in the cultivation of microorganisms from environmental surfaces. Each contact plate has a specified grid molded into the bottom of the plate. The plates have a TapTight™ lid, ensuring a good seal of the plate and lid after the sample has been collected. They are used primarily to monitor microbial contamination, for enumeration of microbial colonies growing on a variety of surfaces, and to assist in determining surface sanitation.

SUMMARY

The contact agar method was one of several methods developed in the 1930's to monitor surfaces for contamination. A petri dish with a diameter of 60mm is slightly overfilled with agar medium. Surface contact is made easy by raising the meniscus above the rim.

When the contact surface is flat and the expected number of microbes to be recovered is 30-300 colonies, the contact agar method is most useful.⁽⁴⁾

FORMULA

Please refer to specific technical information sheet for formulations of each isolation media listed above.

STORAGE AND SHELF LIFE

Storage: Upon receipt store at 2-8 degrees C. away from direct light. Media should not be used if there are any signs of deterioration (shrinking, cracking, or discoloration), hemolysis (where applicable), contamination, or if the expiration date has passed. Products are light and temperature sensitive; protect from light, excessive heat, moisture, and freezing.

The expiration date applies to each product in its intact packaging when stored as directed.

Refer to the keyword "Storage", in the Hardy Diagnostics software program HUGO™, for more information on storing culture media.

Refer to specific technical information sheet for shelf life of each isolation media listed above.

PRECAUTIONS

For laboratory use only. Observe approved biohazard precautions and aseptic techniques. To be used only by adequately trained and qualified laboratory personnel. Sterilize all biohazard waste before disposal.

Refer to specific technical information sheet, in addition to the keyword "Storage", in the Hardy Diagnostics software program HUGO™, for more information on warnings concerning culture media.

PROCEDURE

Method of Use: Hold the plate with thumb and second finger and use index finger to press plate bottom firmly against the selected test surface. The same amount of pressure should be applied for every sample. Do not move plate laterally. Lateral movement spreads contaminants over the agar surface, thus making resolution of colonies difficult. A rolling motion may be used for slightly curved surfaces.⁽⁴⁾

Section or grid areas (walls, floors, etc.) to be assayed. Samples can then be taken from specific points within the grid.

After collecting the sample, replace lid and sharply tap top of the lid to create a seal.

Incubate the plates aerobically at 35 degrees C. for 48 hours. Using adequate light and magnification, count the number of microbes within the squares of the grid area. Take care not to count a square more than once. Using a Bactronic or Quebec colony counter, count colonies and record as the number of colonies per contact plate or number of colonies per square centimeter.⁽⁸⁾

Data should be collected and recorded according to a designed monitoring system that statistically provides for the accurate acquisition of data.

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

Plate should have fewer than 200 colonies if accurate colony counts are desired.⁽⁸⁾ Similar appearing colonies growing in close proximity, but not touching, should be counted as individual colonies. Colonies with different morphology or color should be counted as individual colonies. When spreading colonies are present, a representative portion of colonies in a spread-free area should be counted. This is only done if the area covered by the spreaders does not exceed one-half of the plate area.

Refer to specific technical information sheet for interpretation of typical colonial morphology for the type of medium used.

Consult listed references for more detailed information concerning plate count methods.⁽⁸⁾

LIMITATIONS

It is recommended that biochemical and/or serological tests be performed on colonies from pure culture for complete identification.

Accurate counting can be made difficult by molds or spreading colonies.

Results can be uninterpretable or misleading unless a statistical method for monitoring is designed.

Sampling challenges may occur as a result of irregular, porous, rough or textured media surface.

Microbial contamination on a surface cannot be completely characterized by a single assay.

Contact Plate Media is not recommended for sampling crevices or irregular surfaces.

Ideally, Contact Plate Media should be used on previously cleaned and sanitized surfaces.

Refer to the keyword "Limitations", in the Hardy Diagnostics software program HUGO™, for more information regarding general limitations on culture media.

MATERIALS REQUIRED BUT NOT PROVIDED

Standard microbiological supplies and equipment such as loops, slides, staining supplies, other culture media, microscopes, incinerators, and incubators, etc., as well as serological and biochemical reagents, are not provided.

QUALITY CONTROL

Refer to specific technical information sheet for quality control organisms regularly used by Hardy Diagnostics.

PACKAGING

Contact Plate Media are packaged 10 plates/bag.

* The irradiated products (Cat. no. P74, TSA with Lecithin and Tween^® and Cat. no. P75, SabDex with Lecithin and Tween^®) are packaged in three bags for clean room applications. A fourth sterile sample bag is included for packaging after the sample is collected. Each box P74 and P75 contains two sleeves of 10 plates.

Refer to the keyword "Packaging", in the Hardy Diagnostics software program HUGO™, for more information on packaging formats used at Hardy Diagnostics.

REFERENCES

1. Anderson, N.L., et al. 2005. Cumitech 3B; Quality Control and Quality Assurance Practices in Clinical Microbiology, Coordinating ed., A.S. Weissfeld. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

2. Murray, P.R., et al. 2003. Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 8th ed. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

3. Forbes, B.A., et al. 2007. Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology, 12th ed. C.V. Mosby Company, St. Louis, MO.

4. Greenberg, A.E., et al. (ed.). 1992. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 18th ed. APHA, Washington, D.C.

5. Isenberg, H.D. Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, Vol. I, II & III. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

6. MacFaddin, J.F. 1985. Media for Isolation, Cultivation, Identification, Maintenance of Bacteria, Vol. I. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD.

7. Quality Assurance for Commercially Prepared Microbiological Culture Media, M22. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI - formerly NCCLS), Villanova, PA.

8. Vanderzant, C. and D.F. Splittstoesser, (ed.). 1992. Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods, 3rd ed. APHA, Washington, D.C.

Tween is a registered trademark of ICI Americas, Inc.

071210md