Who is the MicroBootie® footprint sampler designed for?
Food safety professionals and QA teams responsible for environmental monitoring programs, especially in poultry (litter sampling), produce (field sampling), and general in-plant floor monitoring, including ready-to-eat (RTE) processing environments.
What surfaces or environments can the MicroBootie® footprint sampler be used on?
The MicroBootie® footprint sampler is versatile across settings including produce field soil, poultry house litter, and in-plant processing floors — making it useful across multiple segments of food safety and environmental monitoring programs (EMPs).
How does the MicroBootie® footprint sampler help with environmental monitoring programs (EMP)?
As personnel walk through a facility, the MicroBootie® footprint sampler captures continuous surface contact data across large areas with each step. This provides a broader, more representative snapshot of floor-level microbial load and foot-traffic pathogen transfer risks compared to traditional spot swabbing.
What is the MicroTally® MicroBootie® footprint sampler?
The MicroBootie® footprint sampler is a single-use footprint sampler that fits over a technician’s boots or shoes. It passively collects microbial and environmental material with every step, turning a normal walk-through into an environmental monitoring event — with no swabbing, kneeling, or hand contact required.
Should the MicroBroom™ sampler be premoistened before sampling?
Trials did not show any advantage. The interior of heads of Romaine had sufficient moisture to transfer microbes effectively to the sampler without requiring additional pre-wetting.
Can two lots be sampled with the same MicroBroom™ sampler?
There is no physical limitation. However, if they are sampled together, they effectively become one lot that should be accepted or rejected together.
Can the shaft be left on the sampler after sample collection?
This is not recommended. It is generally easier to snap the bulk of the shaft off while returning the sampler to the bag than to remove it later. It also reduces the risk of cross-contamination. If it is not removed, the lab will probably want to remove it to reduce the risk of bag puncture […]
Can the MicroTally® MicroBroom™ sampler be used without the extension handle or for anything other than sampling Romaine lettuce?
The MicroBroom™ sampler and extension handle were designed for aggregated sampling of Romaine lettuce to access the interior where pathogens are expected. Additionally, it is anticipated that these samplers will find other uses in automated sampling applications of Romaine and other products. The extension handle makes the sampler useful for reaching into and under where […]
Should a MicroCap™ sampler always be premoistened for use?
In almost all cases, pre-moistened MicroCap™ samplers provide greater recovery than dry, and in no case do they provide lower recovery. If in doubt, premoisten. The liquid serves as a transfer medium for microbial recovery.
Which size MicroCap™ sampler should I use?
Use the smallest hole size that will fit comfortably over the flange on top of the distribution cone (China Cap) of the weigh scale. On many higher-volume lines, this requires the 8-inch hole.