MilliporeSigma, a U.S. and Canada-based Life Science business subsidiary of chemical company Merck KGaA, has launched a first-of-its-kind technology that can prepare and instantly dispense culture media for use in microbiological food testing.
 
Branded as the ReadyStream system, this technology offers manufacturers enhanced testing efficiency, and eliminates five steps typical in microbiological testing, according to the company.
 
“Culture media and sample preparation is typically a time-consuming, multi-step process for food testing labs, especially for those testing in large sample volumes,” Ian Jennings, head of bio-monitoring, at the life science business of Merck. “We are transforming the way QC labs test by allowing the instrument to do most of the work, saving lab technicians time, resources, and lab space.”
 
Traditional microbiological food testing methods require quality control lab technicians to prepare culture media themselves, or use voluminous bags of ready-to-use media. The ReadyStream system allows users to prepare up to 100 liters of ISO 11133-compliant culture media at the touch of a button in a lab at the point of use. The concentrated media is diluted with sterile water, and 100 liters of pre-heated culture media can be produced from a 10-liter bag which is shipped dry and reconstituted with the system.
 
The machine fully eliminates autoclaving, powder handling, washing, and dealing with bottles, which can dramatically shorten a multi-step workflow, the company reports. Additionally, more lab space is freed up due to the fact that with the system there is no need to handle or move heavy bags of ready-to-use culture media.