Friday 4 October 2013

The Need For Child Resistant Package Testing And Microbiological Testing


In our sophisticated living environment we have so many products at our disposal to carry out every day work routines and various other activities. These items have now become indispensable part of your lifestyle. However it is to be noted that what is normal for us to use can be very difficult for a child to manage. Children are particularly vulnerable to the toxin in various everyday household products. That’s why it is essential to procure items that have been tested for child safety. The primary important of using items that do not harm children underlies the need for child resistant package testing.


Child resistant package testing is done by laboratories that specialize in such tasks. Companies that produce items for consumers use should submit samples of their product to such labs where they will undergo thorough testing procedures. These labs follow intensive testing processes to ensure that the results are accurate and trustworthy. By taking up such testing services a company gains credibility in the market. They emerge as a foremost provider in their industry of high quality products that are not just effective for everyday use but also safe for children in the home.

Another important testing process that companies have to do for their consumer products is microbiological testing. This type of testing determines the presence of micro organisms and how they affect people who use the item that is contaminated by them. This testing is required for water systems, compendia examination, and environment testing. The compendia testing procedure involves implementation of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP 61) that determines that standards for testing microbiological examination of non-sterile products.

The USP 61 or USP microbial limits testing determines the presence of objectionable organisms in consumer products. The organisms can be bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus auseus (S. auseus) , Pseudomonas or fungus such as Aspergillus niger (A. niger) or yeast such as Candida albicans (C. albicans). The presence of such organisms in a product makes it unsafe for use and hence it must be tested to find out if it is free from it before being released into the market. This testing is done according to the standards set by the U.S. FDA for presence of objectionable organisms.

 Microbiological Testing Services
Companies that are bringing out products into the market such as food or lifestyle items, have to ensure that they are thoroughly so that it meets up to the highest quality standards. Otherwise the products cannot be used by consumers as they will pose a safety problem. The safety problem of such products is a serious issue for the company manufacturing them as it will affect their operations and they will not be recognized as a leading provider in the industry. They will lose out on customers because their product cannot be used by children, consumers or because they are unsafe for the environment. In order to get accurate test results, child resistant package testing and microbiological testing should be done by an accredited laboratory. Such labs make use of advanced testing systems and have exceptional quality standards through which the results obtained are accurate.

Monday 27 May 2013

Food and Pharmaceutical Products Testing Specifications and Standards



In order to ensure that the food and pharmaceutical products we intake comply with the specification for microbial quality, microbial testing is necessary.  For all the products that are being manufactured for the consumption of human being, their production involves a number of considerations to make sure that the sample or the product is safe for the use.

Another step is to determine for how long the product is ideal/safe to be used which basically implies that its original nature or the composition is not changed or affected as a result of time and temperature changes. The safety of the product is ensured through various testing procedures to find out whether the contamination is within the safe limits and standards.

Standards and their Specifications…
There have been created many standards with the aim to guard the production as well as the patrons by preventing the release of the products that are not suitable for use.
One such standard is USP (United States Pharmacopeia) chapter 61 also known as the Microbial Limits Test. MLT is likely to be carried under specified conditions to avoid any accidental microbial contamination. The standard provides commands for the evaluation of the amount of feasible aerobic microorganisms that could be present in the non-sterile product. 

The guidelines mainly include testing for the Plate Count (TPC) which includes the Aerobic Plate Count (APC) and also the Yeast/Mold Count (YMC). Besides it also included screening and detection for certain said microorganisms. This standard is also equivalent to the Microbial Limit Test (MLT) of Japanese Pharmacopoeia.
                                                                                                                                   
     

To be able to provide the standards not only for the US but for the entire world and since majority of the USP standards are similar to that of European Pharmacopeia, there was a course of harmonization being settled upon which as result was initiated and made authorized in May, 2009.

Friday 29 March 2013

Get your household water tested to ensure healthy living

For past several years, there is a rapid proliferation in number of people getting disease affliction due to food and water antipathy problems. As per the survey, millions of individuals all across the world drink contaminated water which might contain disruptive microorganisms. These microscopic organisms are not visible to the naked eye but cause detrimental effects over the body. For this reason, it is imperative to drink tested and purified water to ensure good health.

These days, there are plenty of home based as well as laboratory testing techniques. Private laboratories determine the type of water and advise the strength of purifier that needs to be installed at your residence. Moreover, they state the quality of water and level of impurities present in it. There are about 80 types of contaminants that are prominently detected in the drinking water. If remain untreated, they might damage the immune system and cause distress. For a health home and family, it is vital to have clean running water in your household.

Impurities also give rise to parasites that might cause some serious diseases. For those who cannot locate a laboratory nearby their house can opt for home based purified water testing kits. They can be purchased online or from market storefront. These kits are much more cost effective than temporary distilled water supply. The best way out is opting for adequate testing and permanent purification mechanism.

Consequently after testing the impurity level, you can install a reliable purification system. These ionizers work by the process of electrolysis in which the liquid gets segregated into acid and alkaline. Alkaline liquid is amidst the natural antioxidants that enhances the health and well being. This purified water has specialist ions that trim down the signs of aging and augment the energy level.

Thursday 28 February 2013

Maintaining proper personal hygiene to avoid health issues

Personal hygiene plays a very significant role in maintaining a good health. It starts right from your eating and dwelling habits and includes many other factors. Disease causing germs enter our body through our nose, eyes, ears and the food we eat. If our hands are not clean, entering of germs into our body cannot be prevented by any means.

It is not only the question of our own health but it is related to everyone else’s well being. There is an inexhaustible list of diseases that are caused by poor personal hygiene and polluted water, air and environment. The bacteria, viruses and parasites present in unhygienic places may cause deadly diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, influenza, herpes, polio, mumps – the list is never ending. 

In addition to the unhygienic places, consumer articles also play a vital part in spreading disease causing bacteria. Treated articles are the ones that contain an antimicrobial layer being applied to their surface to prevent growth of disease causing bacteria. These are found in almost all the consumer goods categories including healthcare, industrial goods, etc. From computer keyboards and mouse, footwear and sports goods to pens, vacuum cleaners, cosmetics and kitchen utensils, every industrial or healthcare product has antimicrobial active surface to avoid the growth of microorganisms on their surface.

Although companies producing treated surface products can make health claims, the treatment cannot prevent diseases or reduce the bacteria or promise continual self cleansing. Health care agencies have suggested a number of antimicrobial testing procedures for testing the treated products but the most important point is to ensure personal hygiene. You should take steps to get the water tested that is supplied to your home even if you are using a water purifier. You should also learn the basic steps to promote personal hygiene. 

Saturday 15 December 2012

The true meaning of being fit and healthy

The word ‘health’ is often misunderstood by many people. Being healthy does not mean to have excess weight neither it means to be disease free at a time. Rather, it means to be physically fit having all the essential nutrients present in the body in the correct percentage and having an inner strength to fight from disease causing micro organisms. To ensure your health, it is imperative that you undergo certain tests on regular basis. Such tests are performed in various national and private laboratories by taking samples of sputum, urine and blood.

The world of micro organisms is a very unusual one. On one side, these organisms cause many types of diseases, while on the other hand, some of them can be beneficial in the treatment of diseases too. Pharmaceutical Microbiology is the branch of medical science under which various tests are performed to determine their curing capabilities. This is particularly called antimicrobial testing which has proved to be very helpful for discovering cures for some lethal health problems.

The substances called antimicrobial substances are capable of killing or preventing the growth of certain disease causing micro organisms. The medicines that we get in the drug market with the name of antibiotics are formed using these substances only. Pharmaceutical Microbiology is a boon for mankind as due to this science, various tests can be performed to find out new drug alternatives for disease treatment and to perform tests on individuals to ensure good health. In addition to this, various new materials can be formed for wrapping food items and other stuff with the help of these test results.

Generally, the health experts recommend these tests to be taken on regular intervals for ensuring a good health. To get these tests performed, you can contact certified laboratories in your area so that you and your family’s health can be ensured.

Thursday 11 October 2012

Pharmaceutical Microbiology – ensuring the wellbeing of the worldly

As the problems like food adulteration and environmental contamination is increasing, there is a severe pressure on people to ensure their health. Health does not mean just being free from diseases and having a good exterior. To ensure that you are fit and fine, you should let some basic tests performed on yourself by professionals. There are a number of laboratories in various parts of the world that perform these tests to ensure a good health of a person. These tests are performed on the sputum, urine or blood of the person and results are observed.
Microbiology is the branch of science that deals with the organisms that cannot be seen from naked eye. These organisms are very small in size and thus these are named as micro organisms like bacteria, fungus, viruses, prokaryotes, etc. Pharmaceutical Microbiology is an extension of this branch of science in which various studies and experiments are performed on these organisms to find out their perception and resistivity for various drugs. Many health problems such as viral, pneumonia, malaria, cancer, tuberculosis are caused by these tiny organisms. The experiments performed on these organisms can prove to be of great help for treating individuals who are suffering from diseases caused by them. This study is particularly called antimicrobial testing. An antimicrobial substance is used to kill or prevent the growth of these micro organisms. Antibiotic medicines are a form of antimicrobial substances. In fact, it is a substance that is produced by a micro organism that does not allow the growth of any other micro organism.
Pharmaceutical Microbiology is a very valuable branch of science for various purposes that are not only applicable in the hospitals but are also required in clinics. Microbiological examinations cover facility corroboration, crude materials testing, sterilization and wrapping supports, and biocompatibility studies related to the devices that can be used again in addition to planned quality control evaluations and like. Many national and private laboratories are there which perform tests on antimicrobials to find out if they can prove to be affective on the human body. Some of these tests are:
  • Antimicrobial/preservative effectiveness testing
  • Antimicrobial assays including disinfection effectiveness
  • Method development and confirmation
  • AATCC techniques
  • International standards regulation
  • Endo-toxin analysis
  • Water systems testing
Though these tests are performed on medical prescription, yet you can also request these laboratories for taking these tests on your body if you want to make sure that you are in good health. You can either find these laboratories in your locality or search for them online. It will be convenient for you to find a lab in close vicinity of the place where you live as this might require more than one visits to the same. Also it will be easy for you to get these tests performed on you on regular basis. But before deciding which lab to trust with these tests, you must visit it personally at least once to see if everything is up to the mark. The place should be hygienic and equipped with sufficient machines and workforce.

Appropriate health check with antimicrobial testing

As modern technologies are pouring in every nanosecond, people are getting more health conscious. For them staying fit and healthy is very important. This is the reason why they keep a thorough check on the foods they eat. Obviously they cannot risk their lives by eating something that could lead their way to fatal situations. Thus, for the goodwill of the people the foods are beforehand well tested.
Around the globe there are many laboratories that conduct antimicrobial testing. Below given are some bacteria and microbes for which the experts are required to carry out testing:

  • Total viable count: this is a type of testing that is carried on foods to depict the overall picture of the microbiological quality.
  • Enterobacteriaceae: these are used as hygiene indicator organism and even given further warnings of the failures that are likely to take place in the future.
  • Coliforms: these are also termed as hygiene indicator organisms but were used in early times.
  • Enterococci: this is type of organisms that are found in the feces of the humans and are used as a maker of feces contamination in products.
  • E.coli: this is responsible for causing food poisoning. They are the members of Enterobacteriaceae and widely used as an indicator in food testing.
  • Staphylococcus aureus: known for causing food poisoning can leave behind toxin if grows in larger number. It survives on human skin and can transfer to the eatables also.
  • Pseudomonas spp: another organism that is responsible for spoiling the food and is often connected with the spoilage of fish products, milk and meat. They are highly found in environment especially in soil and water.
  • Yeasts and Moulds: plays a very important role in spoiling the food and even produce mycotoxins that can harm the humans also.
There are numerous laboratories that test on various antimicrobials that can affect the human body in anyway. Following given are some tests:

  • Antimicrobial or chemical addition Effectiveness Testing: such as USP 51, USP 61, USP 62, Ph.Eur. 5.1.3, JP (12), etc
  • ASTM Antimicrobial Assays as well as Disinfection efficacy
  • ASTM, AOAC
  • Technique development and validation
  • AATCC methods
  • Global standards
  • Custom studies and method improvement
  • Endotoxin testing
  • Water systems like USP <1227>
As said, there are countless labs where you could get these tests done easily. If you wish to find them, then you could take help of your friends and family or even see online. These labs are either situated in the area nearby or have their huge plants situated in faraway if the area of the lab is too large to fit in an ordinary city. The accuracy of the test is almost hundred percent as the antimicrobial testing is done under the supervision of the experts who have been serving the concerned industry for years. These labs have their active websites which you could visit anytime.
If you are the one who is into food and corporation business so for you such labs are real help and you are assured that in future you are not going to receive any complaints from your business associates either.