SOP FOR AIR SAMPLER

1.0         Objective:

               The objective of this Standard Operating Procedure is to lay down the procedure for operating the Air Sampler.

2.0          Scope:

                This SOP covers operating procedure of Air Sampler 

3.0          Responsibility:

               Junior Research officer, Research Officer: Responsible for operation of the instrument as per procedure.

               QA Officer/QA Manager: Review the records and governing the document.

4.0                       Procedure:

4.1          Ensure that the instrument is visibly clean and free from dust.

4.2          Connect the supply cord to the slot at the bottom of the sampling handle and the other end to the eliminator.

4.3          Press the ON membrane switch of the eliminator to check the working battery.

4.4          Charge the battery if required using the AC adaptor.

4.5          Ensure that the impeller and fan housing is clean and sterilized before taking it in to use for sampling.

4.6          Select the agar filled media strip and insert in to the fan housing.

4.7          Press the RESET switch on control box and pre-set the desired time from 1 to 9 minutes.

4.8          Now hold the impeller handle and start sampling the air by pressing the ON switch.

4.9          The Power and Motor both the lights would be indicating that the sampling process is on.

4.10        Move around in the area for sampling the air in order to penetrate the total area count.

4.11        At the lapse of the set time the impeller would stop and the chime would sound to indicate that the sampling is over.

4.12        Now carefully pull out the strip and preserve with sealing or wrapping it.

4.13        Incubate it and count the colony.

4.14        Calculate the no of CFU / Liter by the below formula.

                                                 Colonies on agar strip

                CFU / Liter =          ------------------------------------

                                                 40 X Sampling time (minute)

4.15        After completion of work put the unit carefully in it’s bag.

Note:     1 Minute corresponds to 40 liters Air separation volume and according timer may be set up from 1 to 8 minutes which corresponds to 40 to 320 liters. Sampling duration over 8 minutes is generally discouraged in view of progressive dehydration of agar medium. 

5.0         History of Revision:

Revision No.	Effective Date	Revision details	Reason for revision