Analysis of Lightning and BioClean tests for assessment of sanitation levels in pork production facilities

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the test sensitivity and specificity of Lightning (BioControl Systems, Inc, Bellevue, Washington) and BioClean (BioVet, St Anthony, Minnesota) testing systems in determining whether various surfaces in pork production facilities have met the standards for disinfection; and to identify factors in pork production units which may interfere with the test sensitivity and specificity of Lightning or BioClean test results. Methods: Swab samples were collected from feeders, flooring, and walls in a wean-finish room and a nursery room of a 1600-sow, farrow-to-finish commercial operation. In both facilities, three adjacent swab samples of a 6.16 cm2 (0.955 in2) area were collected at each sampling site and analyzed using Lightning, BioClean, and cultural examination for bacteria. The test sensitivity and specificity of Lightning and BioClean tests were calculated for each surface using cultural examination as the "gold standard" for classifying a sample as clean or contaminated. Factors such as feed, manure, and disinfectant residues were tested to determine if they interfered with the test sensitivity and specificity of Lightning or BioClean tests. Results: Lightning tests were generally highly sensitive but had low specificity. BioClean tests were generally highly specific but had low sensitivity. Implications: Lightning and BioClean testing systems are not recommended for use in evaluating sanitation levels on swine farms without prior, independent, on-farm validation. Caution should be exercised when transferring technologies from other industries to pork production.