FDA: Swab Cleaning Protocol

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration provides sanitation regulations for the early detection of toxic bacteria. Cotton swabs are used to collect samples from various places in food producing facilities to be tested in food safety laboratories for contaminants, like Ecoli and Salmonella.

Significance

• Complete sanitation requires periodic testing for the prevention of dangerous bacterias. This is necessary to identify and then sanitize a contaminated area to protect the public. Areas of infection could be any place that comes in contact with biological material.

Requirements

• Sterilized swabs that only have contact with a specific area and are then isolated should be used. Kits for testing are provided by the laboratory that will be testing the samples.

Sterilizing a Contaminated Area

• Sterilizing a food production area that has been discovered to contain contaminates requires a spray containing 70 percent ethanol. The spray should be used on the area and then thoroughly wiped with a clean cloth. It is recommended to dispose of the cleaning cloth so there is no chance of spreading the bacteria. Be sure to wash your hands with antibacterial soap.