Validation of the saniTracers Sanitation Verification Method from Stainless Steel Environmental Surfaces: AOAC Performance Tested MethodSM 032001.

Abstract

Effective sanitation of equipment is critical in an integrated food safety system. Existing sanitation verification methods have significant shortcomings that decrease their effectiveness and create an opportunity for novel approaches. This study is intended to validate abiotic bacterial surrogates (saniTracers™) for the rapid verification of solid surface sanitation processes. AOAC validation studies included a pure analyte LOD, matrix studies, inhibition, selectivity, product consistency and stability, instrument variation, and robustness. Stainless steel coupons (4 × 4"), pure or diluted analyte, and Chai qPCR systems were used for those studies. The saniTracers were quantified by qPCR. Average ΔCt values for all matrixes at 50 and 250 ppm sodium hypochlorite sanitation show 3.23 and 11.95, respectively. saniTracers behave similarly in the presence of all matrixes. saniTracers were not inhibited at significant concentrations by any of the sanitizers used. No discrepant results were observed with the robustness study. Lot-to-lot/stability testing demonstrated no differences between the three lots of tests analyzed. saniTracers demonstrated high repeatability and minimal interference from matrix, disinfectant, or microorganisms. The microbial selectivity study indicated a correlation between the removal of pathogens and change in Ct value for saniTracers, following the disinfection process. An average log(cfu) reduction of 4.00 was observed for the three pathogens evaluated, correlating to an average 10.65 Ct change in saniTracers, indicating a correlation in the removal of an average of 0.38 log(cfu) of pathogens per one saniTracer Ct change, following the disinfection process.