Colony counter; Purpose
To establish the procedure for ideal operation and cleaning of Colony Counter, Model: SC6, Stuart UK, in microbiology test.
Colony counter; Scope
This SOP applies for operation and cleaning of Colony Counter, Model: SC6, Stuart, UK in Microbiology Section of General Building at XX Pharmaceuticals Limited.
Definitions/Abbreviations
N/A
Responsibilities
The roles and responsibility is as follows
Executive/ Senior Executive, Microbiology
Perform operation & cleaning.
Manager, Microbiology
Confirm that operation is carried out properly.
Keep the SOP up to date.
Review that SOP is technically informative & application of sound knowledge.
Head of Quality Assurance
Take initiative to Approval of this SOP
Procedure:
Instructions
- Do not press hardly on counting platform.
- Do not use any concentrate cleaning or disinfection solution to outer surface of machine.
- Do not open petridish during colony counting because all micro-organisms are unscrupulous pathogen.
- Cover with a pack of clear discs to protect receiver plate from dust and scratches.
Operation Procedure
- Turn on unit pressing by <ON/OFF> switch located at back of the unit.
- Select plate receiver background as per requirement either dark or white pressing by side panel.
- Select appropriate adaptor for use of less than 90 mm petridish & place it on the receiver plate.
- Adjust sensitivity turning the control knob at clockwise for increasing and at anticlockwise for decreasing.
- Place covered Petridish on receiver plate, using centering adapter if required.
- Press & hold the <correct/reset> key to ensure display is set to zero before counting.
- Mark on each colony with a felt tip pen. Every time a colony is marked, apparatus will register count with a bleep sound and counter advance.
- Press <correct/reset> key once for removal of each count If unwanted counts are made.
- Place first petridish on receiver plate to use averaging facility.
- At end of the count, press the <save> key to store the count in the memory. This will indicated by three dashes on the display. Replace petridish with next and press <save>key to resume the count. Repeat until all dishes have been counted.
- At the end of the run press the <average> key to display the average count. When average facility is active a red LED spot at the top left hand corner of the display will be visible.
- Press & hold the <correct/reset> key until the display returns to zero when count is completed. This will clear the memory of saved counts.
- Switch unit OFF at mains after all the counting is completed.
- Maintain Colony Counter Log Book, Annexure-I for each operation.
Cleaning & Disinfection Procedure
- Remove plate from instrument for cleaning the receiver plate,
- Make sure that instrument is switch off position.
- Disconnect power plug.
- Remove petridish from platform.
- Clean outside of the equipment initially with dry cloth.
- Disinfect the outer surfaces with 5% Dettol/Savlon solution.
- Finally clean with Purified water.
- Clean after each work.
Maintenance
Inform to supplier or Engineering Department for corrective action, If Colony counter shows any mechanical, electrical or any others problem.
Download Annexure Here
Annexure I: Colony Counter Logbook