Cleaning Consultancy Delft bv.    
         


 

           
  Test materials   DES - disinfection controller  
         
   

The need for simple and reliable methods for testing the degree of disinfection of cleaning processes increases. disinfection controllers are a simple solution for checking the lethality of these processes.

   work instruction DES
           
         
    Description    
   


The DES-controller is a bio-indicator, containing cotton patches contaminated with test bacteria. The patches are enclosed in a membrane, which is resistant to heat- and chemicals. This membrane is permeable for water, detergent and disinfectant, but prevents the bacteria from being washed off. This is an advantage because all bacteria must be killed. It also prevents the employer and the process from contamination with the testbacteria.

The bacteria Enterococcus faeçium (ATCC 6057) is used as test-organism. From the all non-sporulating bacteria, Enterococcus faeçium has the highest heatresistance.Enterococcus faeçium is worldwide used as an indicator-organism. The DES-controller is divided into four closed compartments. Each compartment contains a patch with a different quantity of test-bacteria; 103, 104, 105 and 106. This makes it possible to obtain semi-quantitative results.

  

    Application area    
   
The DES-controller is developed by the Institute of Hygiene en Medical Science in Lübeck (Germany). It is extensively tested and used for different applications. The DES-controller can be used in any process where a certain amount of disinfection is desired. Examples of application are:
  • Laundry processes, batch as well as continuous
  • Bed cleaning facilities
  • Utility-/Instrument washingmachines
  • Dishwashers
  • etc.
     
    
    Implementation    
   
The test is quite simple and can be carried out by almost everyone. The DES-controller must be fixed, for instance on a product and follow the process. At the end of the process the controller is rinsed with tap water, dried and returned to CCD. In our laboratory the DES-controller will be analysed and the results will be send as soon as possible.

Result forms are available in the following languages: Dutch, English, French and German.