The test can be applied in all high risk processing facilities and Carbotect™ can be used for the validation of both Cleaning-in-place (CIP) or Cleaning-out-of-place (COP) procedures.
By direct extension Carbotect™ is capable of identifying persistent residues of potential food allergens present in the food and beverage processing equipment after a cleaning procedure.
Carbotect™ is a low-skills based test which empowers plant operators and Quality Assurance personnel to rapidly verify the efficacy of cleaning procedures and is complementary to conventional laboratory based microbiological and residue testing procedures.
By detecting ultra-low levels of organic compounds which provide the basis for microbial growth and colonization, the Carbotect™ test offers a pro-active test to monitor biofilm formation and the adverse consequences of future downstream microbial contamination.
The Carbotect technology has been:
- Developed and patented for the rapid detection of organic contaminants in high risk processing equipment.
- Adapted as an ancillary diagnostic tool for high risk processing facilities to detect potential food allergens.
- Refined to detect ultra-low concentrations of microbial Exopolysaccharides (EPS) associated with biofilms present in process, product and domestic water systems.
- Positioned as a primary detection tool to identify biofilm presence, and to monitor and verify the performance of biocidal treatments.
- Extended to the dental industry for identification and monitoring of Biofilm in dental equipment specifically Dental Unit Water Lines (DUWL’s).
- Modified to detect and semi-quantify the presence of Dissolved and Total Organic Compounds (DOC, TOC) in the process water of membrane filtration systems for process and domestic use.
- Developed as an indispensable and complementary diagnostic tool to safeguard product integrity and thus brand equity.
- Established as a new measure for the evaluation of hygiene and sanitary standards in accordance with the demands of best practice, enhanced safety and in the pursuit of sustainability objectives.
It also detects oxidizing sanitizers used for the cleaning of equipment after incomplete rinsing.
The test is simple. Collect a sample of the final rinse water following cleaning, add the Carbotect™ reagent powder to the 100ml sample bottle as supplied and wait 5 minutes for the resulting colour reaction.
The colour change is measured against the colour chart or a reference standard prepared with distilled water.
Carbotect™ offers a rapid and reliable test of the sanitary effectiveness of the CIP procedure and a semi-quantitative measure of the degree of contamination that may remain in the system.
Carbotect™ can be used to identify and isolate sources of contamination i.e. dead-legs etc., as well as to detail aspects of non-hygienic engineering design in the plant infrastructure.
- All beverage production and packaging facilities – all soft drinks, fruit juices, ice tea & coffee, flavoured waters, breweries, vineyards, dairies etc.
- All food processing facilities – processed and perishable foods, ice-cream, ready-to-eat products, prepared sauces and condiments etc.
- Pharmaceutical plants – Powders, tablets, syrups and other liquid based formulations etc.
- Bulk water facilities – municipalities, water treatment plants at food, beverage and pharma facilities etc.
- Hospitality industry – Point-of-use beverage dispensers – draft beer, soft drink fountains etc.
Biofilm is present in processing equipment and piping systems which supply water to the production plant.
Microbes in bulk water systems live in biofilms or slime layers which coat the surfaces of tanks, reservoirs and supply pipes. This slime layer is an accumulation of organic compounds which supports new microbial growth.
The Carbotect™ test is reliably sensitive for detecting the low levels of these organic microbial compounds and is an indicator of microbial contaminants in bulk water systems. In addition, the colour reagent is also sensitive to the presence of proteins and their building blocks – peptides, as well as unrelated polysaccharide compounds such as cellulose and dissolved organic compounds.