We can offer the following microbiological tests:
- Total Mesophilic Aerobic and Anaerobic Plate Count/Colony Count §;
- Total Microaerophilic Plate Count/Colony Count;
- Total Thermophilic aerobic Plate Count/Colony Count; and Total Psychrotrophic Count;
- Total Coliform and Faecal Coliform Count §;
- Total Yeast and Mould Count §;
- Sulphate Reducing Bacteria;
- Presence of E.coli type I §;
- Presence and confirmation of Salmonella species §; and presence of Shigella species;
- Presence of Staphylococcus aureus §;
- Presence of Pathogenic Clostridial Species (certain strains of Clostridium perfringens);
- Presence of Pathogenic Vibrio species;
- Presence of Pseudomonas species;
- Presence of Mesophilic Lactobacillus species (Acidoduric species);
- Presence of Thermoduric Lactobacillus species;
- Presence of Actobacter species;
- Presence of Lipolytic Organisms;
- Presence of Bacillus cereus;
- Presence of Faecal Coliforms; and presence of Faecal Streptococci;
- Presence of Flat Sour Organisms §;
- Presence of Osmophilic Yeasts and Moulds;
- Cultural isolation and identification (Gram Stain and Biochemical Tests i.e. API);
- Food Pathogen Microbiological Analysis; and Food Spoilage Microbiological Analysis.
Tests marked with § are accredited.
Also we offer microbiological and bacteriological examination of the following products:
- Water and waste-waters/trade effluents;
- Bottled water;
- Energy drinks and formulations;
- Beverages;
- Fruit juices;
- Raw Meat and Meat products;
- Milk and Dairy products;
- Sugars, syrups and molasses;
- Alcoholic mixes;
- Flour and Bakery products;
- Poultry and Egg products;
- Herbs and Spice products;
- Frozen Seafood/Marine products;
- Canned products (such as meat, fish and vegetables);
- Packaging materials, bottles, cans, cartons;
- Pharmaceuticals;
- Cosmetics and disinfectants.
Other related services that we can offer are:
- Sterility Tests and shelf-life evaluations;
- Water Activity tests;
- HACCP consulting or investigations;
- Biotechnology investigations;
- Manufacture and supply of microbiology stain solutions and reagents;
- Supply of microbiological consumables, such as buffer swabs, culture storage boxes, etc.
- Swab Surveys and Hygiene Audits of food premises, fast food outlets and factory processes and the issuing thereafter of a Certificate of Cleanliness.
How to submit a sample:
- If you are sending a sample to us for the first time or requesting any of our other services, then kindly complete and submit our Agreement of Service form, either on line or by fax.
- If you are already a client of ours and have already submitted the Agreement of Service form, then you are only requested to submit your current requirements in writing, such as order number, what test to be done, etc., with the samples.
- If you are sending a sample to us for shelflife tests or stability tests, then kindly complete and submit our Shelflife Submission form, either on line or by fax.
- Perishable samples for bacteriological tests must be delivered to us at a temperature below 10°C, i.e. refrigerated or in a cooler box with ice blocks.
- Products that are normally stored frozen should also be delivered to us in a frozen condition.
- Upon delivery of the sample at our laboratories, kindly check and sign our Job Card after checking the details that our staff have filled in on the form, to avoid any misunderstanding about what you require.
at bioscience@laboratories.co.za