Millipore Technical Publications |
 | TN- TB002EN00 | |
Improved Recovery of Airborne MicroorganismsIn Clean Areas Using a Portable Air Sampler | ||
| Lit No: | TB002EN00 | |
| Year: | 1999 | |
| A new portable air monitoring system, recently developed at Millipore Corporation, provides improved recovery of airborne microorganisms. The M Air T™ system is based on the Anderson principle and uses a sieve with about 1,000 micro-perforations, which reduces the potential for overlapping colonies and minimizes the desiccation of the medium. The system incorporates a unique cassette design that employs a larger agar volume and depth along with a flat surface, which, in combination with a stepwise increase in air velocity, allows consistent particle size impaction. Up to 1,000 L (1 m3) of air can be sampled within seven minutes. The cassette surface rapidly rehydrates after impaction thereby renewing the water activity and reducing further effects of drying on organisms present. The M Air T System was compared to the United States Pharmacopeia's recommended method, Slit-to-Agar (STA) sampling, and two other portable systems in two test areas. Recoveries were equivalent to the Slit-to-Agar impactor and significantly higher than the other portable systems in the test area with a significant microbial population. Recoveries were equivalent for all samplers in the M 3.5 (Class 100) clean room. The M Air T System provides an alternative to other sampling devices for monitoring airborne microorganisms where both portability and sensitivity are needed. Click the PDF above for the full document. | |
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