Study of Microbiological

Microbiological Studies

Microbiology laboratory at ITL labs undertakes quality inspection, Testing and certification for industries associated with raw and processed food, drugs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and water. The lab is well equipped, with state of the art facilities and experienced scientists. Our lab provides the following services. Thrust Areas Product Quality Certification Projects Consultancy Training

Product Quality Inspection And Certification

Detection Of Pathogens Enumeration of Spoilage Micro-Flora Residual Anti-Microbial Substances Bacterial Enterotoxins Mycotoxins Microbiological Monitoring of Indoor Air Anti Microbial efficacy of nano technology based devices/filters Preservative Efficacy. Disinfection Efficacy

Detection Of Pathogens

Name Of The Pathogens

Escherichia coli Escherichia coli O157 Vibrio cholera Vibrio parahaemolyticus Pathogenic streptococci Staphylococcus aureus Pseudomonas aeruginosa Legionella Campylobacter jejuni Clostridium perfringens Yersinia enterocolitica Bacillus cereus Salmonella Shigella Listeria monocytogenes

Protocols /Techniques Followed

FDA-BAM APHA BIS ASTM AOAC ELISA  Conventional Methods

Enumeration Of Spoilage Microbes

Micro-organisms are ubiquitous in nature. Quality and shelf life of any product depends on presence and nature of micro-organisms contained in it. Under favourable conditions these micro organisms proliferate and result in loss of product quality. Microbiological monitoring is an essential part of quality control. ITL labs plays an important role in testing and certification.

Test Parameters

Standard Plate Count Coliform / Faecal Coliforms Psychrophilic and Thermophilic Aerobic and an-aerobic spore formers Rope Spore Count Anaerobic Bacteria Sulphite Reducing Bacteria Sulphur and Iron Bacteria Yeast and Moulds

Residual Anti-Microbial Substances

Food-producing animals are given antimicrobial drugs for prevention of disease and for their well being. The residues of these antimicrobial drugs remain in and on the body of the animals.

Following anti-microbial residues are being tested at ppb levels using ELISA techniques.

Tetracyclines Sulfonamides Streptomycin Chloramphenicol Gentamycin Neomycin Nitrofurans etc .

Bacterial Enterotoxins

Bacteria produces Enterotoxins as a part of their metabolic activities. Some of them are heat labile while others are heat stable in nature. Even severe food processing treatments can not eradicate these toxicants and may result in food intoxication.

SRI undertakes testing of the following Enterotoxins in food and food products.

Bacillus cereus Diarrhoeal enterotoxins Staphylococcal enterotoxins

Mycotoxins

Mycotoxins are carcinogenic, highly toxic metabolites of fungi like Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. They are toxic even in trace quantities

Aflatoxins -Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, M1 Fumonisin Deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin) Ochratoxin A Zearalenone T-2 toxin etc.

Monitoring of Indoor Air

ITL labs carries out air-monitoring studies for presence of microbes. Services are provided in the following areas

Storage Godowns Hotels/Restaurants Food Processing/Packaging Areas Clean Rooms/Clean Air Devices Operation Theatres and Intensive care units in hospitals

Preservative Efficacy

Nanotechnology In pharmaceutical, herbal and cosmetic formulations, various anti-microbial substances are added to arrest microbial activity and extend shelf life of the products. The effectiveness of these substances are evaluated as per USP protocols. Selection of challenge micro-organisms include gram positive and gram negative bacteria, spore formers, yeast and fungi.

Disinfection Efficacy

The Phenolic and non-phenolic type disinfectants are being tested for their germicidal value as per National and International protocols.