Growth Promotion Testing (GPT) is so foundational to Microbiological product safety that it can be easy to overlook. Most industrial microbiologists understand the importance of GPT, but this critical test is sometimes performed incompletely and inconsistently. A sampling of FDA…
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Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) organisms are consistently a leading cause for microbiological recalls in the United States when contamination is identified. Requirements for Bcc testing were officially added to United States Pharmacopeia (USP) General Chapter <60> in 2019. Laboratories are…
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When it comes to pre-clinical and clinical research in drug and therapy development, there are several areas of responsibility where sponsors may outsource key functions to a Contract Research Organization (CRO). The reasons vary, but the top two are cost…
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What if the latest tech device had all the bells and whistles everyone wanted and was far better than anything currently being sold, but the marketer was told he could not sell it until all the previous versions of his…
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Since we launched our Custom Solutions program for environmental isolates and objectionable organisms in 2011, the most common strains have remained remarkably consistent. Even as the customers we serve (and the products they manufacture) have become increasingly diversified, the top…
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As the use of cell lines to produce biopharmaceuticals continues to increase, Mycoplasma testing is a growing quality control challenge. Because of its unique properties, Mycoplasma poses many challenges for detection and management. Mycoplasma contamination can spread quickly, yet common…
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The 2019 #CreepyCultures results are in! It wasn’t easy choosing only a few winners and honorable mentions out of all the truly creepy agar art you submitted this year. Congratulations to the winners and honorable mentions, and thank you to…
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Halloween is once again upon us and #CreepyCultures is back! Your intricate microbe illustrations left us in awe last year. We can’t wait to see what you conjure up for 2019! Unleash your creative side and send us your creepiest,…
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Several factors can influence the accuracy of aerobic plate counts used to estimate the number of microorganisms in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and household products. Below are a few best practices we recommend for achieving consistent and accurate counts. 1. Ensure…
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Gram staining is an important procedure all microbiologists should master. A laboratorian performs a Gram stain for many reasons – from screening the quality of a sputum sample to rapid presumptive diagnosis of an illness like bacterial meningitis. How to…
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