In March 2025, PharmaMedia Dr. Müller (PMM) launched the new PMM-Swab, the safest all-in-one swab device on the market for sampling in critical environments. The PMM-Swab (art.-no. 885.0120) is designed to perform a presence/absence test for environmental monitoring of dry surfaces, filling needles, tubing, and surfaces that are hardly accessible with contact plates in cleanrooms, RABS, and isolators.
The PMM-Swab is used for the detection of micro-organisms by swabbing and incubation, in complement with sedimentation and contact plates as part of the Contamination Control Strategy (CCS). As an all-in-one device, it enables a safe and efficient sampling of surfaces in critical environments minimizing the risk for a secondary contamination due to device handling, since it is not necessary to open the device after sampling to incubate the swab pad with growth medium.
Growth medium and swab pad:
- The PMM-Swab is provided with Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) supplemented with neutralizers
- The basic medium is prepared according to Eur. Phar. 2.6.1 and USP <71>
- The medium is protected by a glass ampoule, which is sealed and autoclaved immediately after filling
- The double-tip ampoule enables an easy release of the medium
- The swab pad is made of double-layered knitted polyester with low particle and ionic content
- A head flat ensures optimized sampling
- The swab pad is pre-wetted with physiological NaCl solution
Packaging, irradiation, and transport:
- PMM-Swabs are triple wrapped with H2O2 impermeable, transparent foils
- A hole in the innermost and middle foil ensures facilitated sanitization
- PMM-Swabs are gamma-sterilized (> 25 kGy)
- Transport and storage at 2 – 25 °C
- PMM-Swabs are delivered in boxes with 20 bags of 6 PMM-Swabs each
Key advantages of PMM-Swab:
- Safety – the growth medium is autoclaved in the final container, a safer production procedure compared to aseptic filling. The risk of false-positive results during application is minimized.
- Reliability – the TSB is supplemented with neutralizers for the neutralization of residues of disinfectants, including Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs). An improved neutralization of disinfectants reduces the risk of false negative results.
- Efficacy - A flat-sized swab pad pre-wetted with physiological NaCl solution enables a large swabbing area, optimizing the sampling procedure.
- Traceability – a unique label for each device containing a barcode and the identification of each device through a unique number enable an easy traceability of each sample.
- Easy handling – the transparent packaging guarantees integrity and visual check prior to opening the device in critical areas. The presence of a hole in the innermost and middle foils facilitates sanitization in incubators and RABS.
…and in addition to that, PMM´s well-known advantages:
- fast and reliable delivery
- one delivery/one lot
- providing products with a sufficient residual shelf life
- state-of-the-art service
- and much more.
