Biofilm Testing Laboratory
What is Biofilm?
A biofilm is a community of microorganisms embedded in a slimy matrix which can attach to various surfaces. A great diversity of species has been found in biofilms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Biofilms can exist on inert surfaces such as glass, plastic, and metal, but can also use plant and animal tissues as a substrate. The slimy extracellular matrix provides protection for the microorganisms within the biofilm, resulting in an increased resistance to disinfectants, antibiotics, and a host’s immune system. Biofilms can create major problems in the health care, food, and manufacturing industries, including infections from implantable medical devices, contamination of food/food-contact surfaces, and corrosion or other damage to industrial equipment.
Biofilm in Health Care
Major advances in medical devices have been made over the last few decades, keeping thousands of people alive and improving the quality of life for others. At the same time, these devices (e.g., implants, catheters, in-dwelling devices, and contact lenses) can be the source of serious or life-threatening infections caused by the adherence and establishment of biofilms on the surface of the device. Due to the unique nature of a biofilm’s structure and its resistance to antimicrobial agents, minimizing the risk of biofilm formation poses great challenges.
Nelson Labs Biofilm Testing Center
Nelson Labs Bozeman offers services to companies that want to substantiate anti-biofilm claims for their products, and we can assist you in test design and execution. Our team of biofilm experts, lead by Margaret Butler Ph,D, have worked on some of the most complex biofilm efficacy evaluations and are prepared to offer this expertise to you. Using ASTM methods, customized experiments, and regulatory insight, Nelson Labs Bozeman can help you generate the data needed to support your anti-biofilm claims, such as biofilm kill, removal, and prevention.
Testing Capabilities:
- Biofilm disinfectant efficacy testing
- A chronic wound biofilms
- Oral biofilms
- Medical devices
- Drug synergy (modified checkerboard assay)
- Biofilm in treated water systems (dental water systems, hemodialysis systems)
Biofilm Test Methods:
- CDC Biofilm Reactor Protocol ASTM E2562 and ASTM E3161
- Drip Flow Reactor Protocol ASTM E2871
- Modified Colony/Drip Flow Reactor Protocol
- Minimum Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC) Testing ASTM E2799
- Antimicrobial Activity and Biofilm Resistance Properties of Tube, Yarn, or Fiber Specimen ASTM E3151
- Measuring the Ability of a Synthetic Polymeric Material to Resist Bacterial Adherence ASTM E3371
- Intraluminal Catheter Model used to Evaluate Antimicrobial Urinary Catheters for Prevention of Escherichia coli Biofilm Growth ASTM E3321
- EPA Protocols (MB-19, MB-20)
- Zero-Shear (Static) Colony Biofilm Method
- Custom experimental designs
Product Types:
- Soluble powders
- Liquids
- Coatings
- Surfaces
- Solid materials
- Devices
- Polymers
Organisms:
- Pseudomonas species
- Staphylococcus and MRSA species
- Candida species
- Clinical samples
- Environmental samples
- Donated saliva
- Antibiotic-resistant strains
- Additional microorganisms (inquire)
Methods
ASTM
These are among the most commonly used ASTM methods, please note that these are not our only capabilities. After discussing your needs with our experts, we are able to purchas...
Learn MoreASTM - E2647
Drip Flow Reactor Protocol BioScience Labs provides services for evaluating product efficacy in the prevention and/or removal of biofilms using in-vitro techniques. This metho...
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MBEC Reactor Protocol BioScience Labs provides services for evaluating product efficacy in the prevention and/or removal of biofilms using in-vitro techniques. This method ser...
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Single Tube Method BioScience Labs provides services for evaluating product efficacy in the prevention and/or removal of biofilms using in-vitro techniques. This method is typ...
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CDC Biofilm Reactor Protocol BioScience Labs provides services for evaluation of product efficacy in the prevention and/or removal of biofilms using in-vitro techniques. This ...
Learn MoreCustom Designed Methods
BioScience Laboratories, Inc. knows that no two studies are the same. BSLI specializes in designing the right efficacy study to meet the product’s unique label claims. Custom ...
Learn MoreColony Biofilm Method
Biofilms in a Zero-Shear Environment BioScience Labs provides services for evaluation of product efficacy in the prevention and/or removal of biofilms using in-vitro technique...
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