BeviStat™ Rapid Microbiology Detection System

An automated system for the real-time response to yeast and mold contamination in filterable raw materials, CIP rinse water and beverages

   • Results in approximately 10 minutes
   • For the majority of samples, incubation is not needed.
   • Sensitivity down to one cell per sample
   • Easy to maintain
   • Easy to operate
   • Proven technology delivers consistent, reliable results

With the demand for your beverage products increasing around the globe, you are challenged with producing larger volumes of product while maintaining the same manufacturing standards. The BeviStat microbiology detection system is an ideal tool to enable you to increase your production while decreasing overhead costs and potential product waste. The BeviStat system is a fully automated solution for the rapid detection, response, and resolution of yeast and mold contamination in filterable samples throughout your beverage manufacturing process. This automated contamination monitoring tool improves process quality control, product yield and the timely release of products. Utilizing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) Bioluminescence technology, the BeviStat system delivers faster yeast and mold test results than traditional growth-based detection methods, including membrane filtration (MF) and pour plates.

Test Results in Minutes

Instead of waiting days for traditional yeast and mold test results, the BeviStat system can deliver a pass/fail result down to one cell per sample with no volume limitation in approximately 10 minutes. The BeviStat system may also be used for the detection of spores and bacteria in filterable samples after an incubation period.

A Rapid Alternative to Traditional Microbiology

Many beverage production processes are susceptible to yeast and mold. The ability to detect yeast and mold within minutes rather than days can result in a substantial cost savings in product holds, storage, raw materials and WIP waste, and reprocessing. In addition, monitoring of critical process points including pasteurization and aseptic filling enables your process engineers to validate the quality of a process in real time. In four easy steps, the BeviStat system will detect yeast and mold contamination down to one cell per sample in approximately 10 minutes, regardless of the volume of your sample (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Reliable Process Monitoring in 4 Easy Steps

Easy to Use

From the user-friendly touch screen, operators can initiate a rapid detection test, refer back to historical test results, record new protocols or load existing protocols quickly and easily. The BeviStat system performs all necessary detection steps within a closed chamber without operator intervention enabling personnel to focus on other tasks.

Disposable Reagent Spray Device Eliminates Cleaning

The BeviStat system will alert personnel when it is time to replace the reagent spray device. This spray device is easy to install and remove and is entirely disposable, eliminating a cleaning step.

Closed Test Chamber

To maintain positive pressure during testing, the system circulates air filtered inside the test chamber. The positive pressure created eliminates the risk of cross contamination from external contaminants or particles.

Traceability

The BeviStat bar code reader records and saves the lot number of each reagent kit component. Test results are saved on the internal hard drive for future traceability and cross reference. An operator can also access the last 250 tests from the touch screen. Test results can also be printed, filed or exported to a computer or an external memory device.

Ideally Suited to a Broad Range of Beverages:

   • Sports drinks
   • Energy drinks
   • Soft drinks
   • Flavored water
   • Iced tea
   • Beer, wine and cider
   • Spirits

At These Critical Testing Points:

   • Raw materials
   • CIP (Clean-In-Place) rinse water
   • Surface monitoring
   • Final product

Three Proven Technologies

The BeviStat method combines three proven technologies: membrane filtration, microwave cell lysis and ATP Bioluminescence.

Consistent and Reliable Membrane Filtration

For sample preparation, the BeviStat system incorporates Millipore's Beviflex™ funnel with a hydrophilic PVDF (HV) filtration membrane. The Beviflex-HV filter funnel is pre-sterilized and ready to use, eliminating the need to wash, bag, or autoclave. The sealed membrane also eliminates membrane handling and transfer steps, which further minimizes cross contamination and improves testing reliability.

BeviStat ATP Bioluminescence Rapid Detection Technology

Releasing ATP

Inside the BeviStat test chamber, the membrane is pretreated with an ATP bioluminescence reagent that eliminates background ATP. The BeviStat detection system (a photomultiplier) then records the number of relative light units (RLUs) present. This number is used as a baseline background count.

Lysis of Contaminant Cells

The membrane is then treated in a dedicated microwave station in order to inactivate the ATP bioluminescence reagent. In addition, any cells captured on the membrane during sampling are effectively lysed and their ATP released.

Detection of Yeast and Mold Contamination

Upon completion of the lysis cycle, the ATP bioluminescence reagent is reapplied to the membrane. This second application reacts with the ATP freed from any lysed cells. The number of RLUs is recorded over a 500 second time period. The BeviStat system records this light emission and then performs a background subtraction using the earlier background baseline. A pass/fail answer including the level of RLUs is then displayed on the screen.

Improve Your Quality Control

With the BeviStat Rapid Microbiology Detection system, you now have the ability to obtain real-time yeast and mold test results, enabling you to significantly enhance your quality control over your beverage manufacturing process. Delivering reliable, consistent test results, you can now detect yeast and mold contamination in only ten minutes, enabling you to proactively:

   • Perform corrective action sooner
   • Reduce raw material or WIP product waste
   • Monitor your CIP rinse efficiency
   • Reduce reprocessing costs
   • Reduce storage and warehousing costs
   • And faster release to market

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