- 23 August 2006 -

Microbe filters from Sartorius

Sartorius has launched two new filtration devices that can detect microbes during air sampling and sterility testing.

The first device, the MD8 Airscan features a gelatin membrane filter method giving users easy detection of microbes and viruses during sampling. An absolute retention rating ensures that all bacteria-laden particles are captured, regardless of size, guaranteeing total authenticity of results, Sartorius says. The gelatin membrane filter prevents any collected microbes from drying out and avoiding detection and can be used across a wide variety of applications for example, virus collection due to its water solubility.

The MD8 Airscan is capable of processing up to 1m³ per sample so that even the lowest microbial counts being detected, and uses an electronic sensor to precisely monitor and maintain air flow rate. It is suitable for useage in isolators, blow-fill-seal machines as well as 'A' and 'B' class clean rooms and is compliant with EU-GMP.

The second device is the Sterisart which has been designed for sterility testing. Utilising Sartochem, a membrane filter developed especially for this application, it offers a high retention of micro organisms, better than the standard 0.45 µm membrane and is also mechanically superior to the classical 0.45 µm membrane. It incorporates a dual metal needle supplied with different adapters so that virtually all containers and products can be tested within its user-friendly format. The gamma sterile version has gas impermeable packaging, which prevents sterilants used in isolators from penetrating the box or compromising the system.

www.sartorius.com