Q: Heterotrophic plate count (HPC) testing is critical for the water, food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. However, traditional HPC testing methods are slow and cumbersome
Heterotrophs are microorganisms that require organic carbon for growth. These microorganisms include bacteria, yeasts, and molds, which are widely found in soil, water, and food. HPC methods are used in water testing to monitor the overall health of a water system and to validate quality controls and the effectiveness of water treatment processes.
Typically, HPC testing uses either a pour plate method, or a spread plate—both require agar preparation, extensive quality control, and hands-on time.
A:Lab managers need an easy-to-use HPC testing process to measure the overall health of a water system and validate process controls. It must provide results that are easy to interpret and quantify.
New from IDEXX, the EasyDisc™ platform provides faster, easier HPC testing results without media preparation or extensive quality control. By eliminating agar preparation steps, EasyDisc tests improve workflows and require less than one minute of hands-on time to process a sample. Bright blue colonies and gridlines make it easier to read than traditional methods.
With a 12-month shelf life, EasyDisc tests eliminate waste, minimize the chance of contamination, and reduce the need for repetitive quality-control checks that are necessary with batch preparation of agar. It is available in three formulations—YEA, PCA, and R2A—to cover HPC testing needs for drinking and source water testing and medical, dental, and/or pharmaceutical waters.
The EasyDisc platform is the latest innovative water testing method from IDEXX, the global leader in rapid microbiological testing for water, which also offers liquid culture methods for the enumeration of E. coli and coliform bacteria, as well as detection methods for Enterococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Legionella pneumophila.
To learn more, visit: idexx.com/EasyDiscforHPC