NAME: HITESH CHAVADA

SUBJECT NAME: FOOD

MICROBIOLOGY
STUDENT NO. : 300779164

SUBJECT CODE: BI-208-064

EXPERIMENT NO: 7 : ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION

Questions-Answers:1)Compare the two methods used for air sampling and the two
methods for surface testing, their possible uses, and efficiency, as
demonstrated by class results.
Ans: There are 2 methods used for air sampling,
1)Settle plate method: In this method TSA plate is exposed horizontally in
the hallway for 30 minute to determine growth of microbes present in
environment. The microorganism from the air may attach to the TSA
medium. After keeping them at room temperature for one week the
microorganisms may grow .
2) Air sampler method: In this method air sampler was used with rose
Bengal agar media plate with 200 liter of volume for the same purpose, but
no growth was observed. So the settle plate method is more efficient than
air sampler according to my result.
There are 2 methods used for surface testing,
1) Template method:In this method tween 80 used with TSA media and 100
cm2 area was swabbed using sterile cotton swab.. It showed 100% kill of
microbes. It is used for testing irregular surfaces.
2) RODAC method:

This method is recommended for sampling flat,

impervious surfaces and 100 cm2area was swabbed. It showed 75.47% kill
of microbes.
So, according to my result, template method is more efficient than
RODAC method . [2]

2)Why is Tween 80 used in the media? Was it appropriate for your

type of disinfectant? Are there other chemicals that could have
been added to achieve the same result?
Ans: Tween 80 is used in the TSA media for neutralizing the disinfectant.
No, tween 80 is not appropriate for disinfectant ( 70% citrus) according to
the result. It is used for the isolation of microorganisms from the surfaces
sanitized with different types of disinfectants. Other chemicals like lecithin ,
span 80 can be added for the same result. [3]
3)Comment on the types of microbes you found in your test area.
What is their possible

origin?

Ans:Various types of microbes were found in the test area. Some of them
are

gram (+ve) bacteria and some of them are gram (-ve) bacteria.

Moreover fungi and moulds was also found on the plates, we cannot
identified the exact type of moulds. Their possible origin is may be the air or
the surface of the floor. This may be due to improper cleaning.

REFERENCES:-

1 Richardson, A. (2010). Lab Manual of Food microbiology`` centennial

college`` retrieved March 14, 2010.
2 "Environmental sampling for the detection of microorganisms." Health
protection branch,ottawa (1992), retrieved from,
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/alt_formats/hpfb-dgpsa/pdf/resrech/mflp41a-eng.pdf.
3 Tryptic soy agar/lecithin & tween 80 (7163). (2011). Retrieved from
http://www.neogen.com/Acumedia/pdf/prodinfo/7163_PI.pdf.