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The BD Sterile Pack Swab is a ready-to-use sterile swab in a pre-filled tube of rinse solution for surface and equipment sampling.

Surface and equipment sampling is routine practice in hospitals, pharmaceutical and food industries as part of infection control, environmental monitoring and hygiene control programs. Collection of samples from the same area before and after cleaning and/or treatment with a disinfectant permits the evaluation of the efficacy of the sanitary procedures. Each Sterile Pack Swab unit is ready-to-use and comprised of a peel open pouch containing a sampling swab in a tube with approximately 10 mL rinse solution. The Sterile Pack Swab is designed to sample a variety of surface textures and equipment with the advantage of sampling hard-to-reach areas such as equipment crevices and inside pipe work. The pre-filled rinse solution is a general-purpose isotonic solution with neutralizing agents for the maintenance of microorganisms and the neutralization of disinfectants. The double pouch design is gamma-irradiated.

1. Examine the product for signs of deterioration as described under "Product Deterioration."

2. Check performance by inoculating a representative sample of swab units with pure cultures of stable control microorganisms that give known, desired reactions.

The following test strains are recommended.

For Laboratory Use.

Observe aseptic techniques and established precautions against microbiological hazards throughout all procedures. After use, contaminated materials should be sterilized by autoclaving. Applying excessive pressure during sampling may cause the applicator to break. Inside of the unit, it is possible to find detached swab fibers. Some pieces of fiber may detach from the swab during sampling.