The conditions present in your waterlines are conducive to biofilm formation due the narrow diameter of the tubing, low water pressure, low flow rates and frequent periods of stagnation. Also, the hardeners and additives from plastic tubing may provide a nutritive source for microorganisms.
For proper infection control, both associations recommend a TVC less than 200cfu/mL. I currently have an in-office incubator, can I use this for the E|Line water testing vials? The incubator must be a dry block incubator with a temperature of 37˚C. Ensure the vials fit properly into the incubator wells. If the wells are too large, the test results [...]
If there is an immediate colour change (within 20-30 minutes before incubation) in either the Biofilm or Bacteria Test Vial, do not proceed with testing as results will be inaccurate. Immediate colour change indicates your water source is out of range for testing. Your water pH can be too high or too low due to many factors such as [...]
The spots seen inside the test vial after incubation are growing bacteria that have not had enough time to change colour. They do not effect your test results and are insignificant in your water system.
Biofilms consist primarily of naturally occurring slime-producing bacteria and fungi that form microbial “communities”. This bacterial film tightly adheres and lies flat against the walls of the small-bore plastic tubing in dental units that deliver coolant water to high-speed hand pieces and air/water syringes. As water flows through the microbial matrix, microorganisms may occasionally be released into the [...]
The bacterial test vial detects the presence of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi. The Biofilm test vial will detect the presence of Pseudomonas spp, which indicates biofilm within your dental waterline system. The test is based on the limit of 200 cfu/mL.
While this procedure is able to remove free-flowing organisms suspended in the waterline fluids, the beneficial effects of mechanical flushing have been shown to be transient. Recommendations from current standards/guidelines do include flushing waterlines between patients to eliminate any patient material that my be been retracted into hand pieces and air water syringes during dental procedures, however [...]
Test vials incubated for less than 24 hours do not have sufficient time for bacterial growth or colour change based on the pre-determined test limit of 200 cfu/mL. Test vials need a minimum of 24 hours to show accurate results for the limit of 200 cfu/mL. The longer you leave your vials in the incubator, the more sensitive the [...]