1.3 MICROBIOLOGICAL SURVEYING

Question 1

Testing can be carried out by local labs in most areas, what is the process?

Answer 1

1. Contact sample to be taken
2. Specialist kit to do so containing a glove & thin sterile sponge
3. Sponge pressed onto surface being tested
4. Watch cross contamination

Question 2

Labs will attempt to grow what from the sample provided?

Answer 2

Bacteria

Question 3

Tests will only detect what?

Answer 3

Viable bacteria

Question 4

Facealstreptococci bacteria (common gut bacteria) is a good bacteria to test for, why?

Answer 4

1. Survives longer than other bacteria
2. Therefore labs test to check if sewage water still remains

Question 5

What happens with a negative result?

Answer 5

• Doesn’t mean the property is therefore clean, dead bacteria can also be harmful.

Question 6

Can viruses be detected by simple lab testing?

Answer 6

No, therefore need to do thorough cleaning