Merck Millipore adds vegetable-based contact agar to portfolio
For isolator and cleanroom surface monitoring
Merck Millipore’s new vegetable contact agar, + LTHTh - ICRplus, is a ready-to-use plate that is suitable for environmental monitoring of isolators and cleanrooms. The plate is designed to determine the microbial count present on a surface, and because the agar is of non-animal origin, the device minimises the risk of animal spongiform encephalopathy (TSE/BSE) transmission.
The + LTHTh – ICRplus agar determines a surface’s count of bacteria, yeasts and mould by promoting efficient microbial growth under both aerobic and anaerobic incubation conditions. A series of neutralisers will counteract a range of disinfectants, allowing micro-organisms to grow even if the surface of the agar contains residual amounts of disinfectant. The device has a long shelf life and can be stored at room temperature.
‘Our new vegetable-based contact agar is designed to ensure safety by reducing contamination risks during the manufacture of biopharmaceutical drugs and other medicinal products,’ said Yvonne Hochheimer, project manager, Merck Millipore.
‘It will complete further our portfolio of vegetable-based products such as the ready-to-use vegetable peptone broth for media fills and increase the choice of high quality products for our customers.’
Merck Millipore is the life science division of Merck KGaA and is based in Billerica, MA in the US.