ASTM D5588-97(2002)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determination of the Microbial Condition of Paint, Paint Raw Materials, and Plant Areas
Standard Test Method for Determination of the Microbial Condition of Paint, Paint Raw Materials, and Plant Areas
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Spoilage of paint in the container is often related to the use of contaminated raw materials, water (particularly recycled washwater), vessels, piping, and equipment in the manufacturing plant. There is a need for a simple method to determine the presence or absence of microorganisms in plants that manufacture paints and coatings. Such a determination enables the manufacturer to establish the point of contamination (that is, raw materials or problem housekeeping areas in the plant) to help in solving the spoilage problem.
Note 1—Some contamination in plant areas is to be expected, since microorganisms are ubiquitous and cannot generally be eliminated practically (it is what an in-can preservative is supposed to control). Excessive levels of contamination or contaminated raw materials can exceed the capability of the preservative. If you have excessive contamination in the plant, there are methods for decontamination including steam, preservatives, bleach, etc. These should be discussed with your biocide supplier and used with care. Recovery of spoiled or contaminated products is often not feasible, so an adequate level of the appropriate biocide in conjunction with good plant housekeeping practices are essential. Your biocide supplier can also help here.
This test method may be used by persons without basic microbiological training, but some training on aseptic techniques would be recommended.
Note 2—The reliability of the results obtained from this test method is extremely dependent on the techniques employed. Improper techniques can result in a sterile sample appearing to be contaminated, and even worse, a contaminated sample appearing to be sterile (see also 5.1). It is recommended that you consult with your biocide supplier, raw material supplier, or an independent testing laboratory to confirm questionable results.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for the determination of the microbial condition (contamination or sterility) of raw materials used in the manufacture of paint, and the microbial condition of paint and paint manufacturing areas.
1.2 The values in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation:D5588–97(Reapproved2002)
Standard Test Method for
Determination of the Microbial Condition of Paint, Paint Raw
1
Materials, and Plant Areas
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5588; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
tically (it is what an in-can preservative is supposed to control). Excessive
1. Scope
levels of contamination or contaminated raw materials can exceed the
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for the determina-
capability of the preservative. If you have excessive contamination in the
tion of the microbial condition (contamination or sterility) of
plant, there are methods for decontamination including steam, preserva-
raw materials used in the manufacture of paint, and the
tives, bleach, etc. These should be discussed with your biocide supplier
microbial condition of paint and paint manufacturing areas. and used with care. Recovery of spoiled or contaminated products is often
not feasible, so an adequate level of the appropriate biocide in conjunction
1.2 The values in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
with good plant housekeeping practices are essential. Your biocide
The values given in parentheses are for information only.
supplier can also help here.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2 This test method may be used by persons without basic
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
microbiological training, but some training on aseptic tech-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
niques would be recommended.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
NOTE 2—The reliability of the results obtained from this test method is
extremely dependent on the techniques employed. Improper techniques
2. Summary of Test Method
can result in a sterile sample appearing to be contaminated, and even
2.1 This test method outlines procedures to (1) obtain worse, a contaminated sample appearing to be sterile (see also 5.1). It is
recommended that you consult with your biocide supplier, raw material
samples for sterility testing from wet or dry materials and plant
supplier, or an independent testing laboratory to confirm questionable
sites, (2) conduct the sterility testing on those samples to see if
results.
they are contaminated, ( 3) evaluate the degree of contamina-
tion, if any, and ( 4) provide a guide for some indication of the
4. Apparatus and Materials
type of contamination present (bacterial, fungal, yeast, etc.).
4.1 Balance, capable of weighing to 0.10 g.
This test method is not designed to include all the necessary
4.2 Incubator, or other device capable of maintaining a
precautionstomaintainthelevelofsterilityrequiredtoprovide
constant temperature between 28 and 32°C.
the most accurate results. Some familiarity with microbiologi-
4.3 Refrigerator.
cal techniques is recommended.
2 3
4.4 Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) Plates, pre-prepared. (See
Note 3).
3. Significance and Use
4
4.5 Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) Plates, or Malt Agar
3.1 Spoilage of paint in the container is often related to the
5
Plates, acidified to pH 3.5 with lactic acid, pre-prepared.
use of contaminated raw materials, water (particularly recycled
washwater), vessels, piping, and equipment in the manufactur- NOTE 3—If preparing plates, Tryptic Soy Agar media with TTC
(triphenyltetrazolium chloride) indicator dye may also be used. In general,
ing plant. There is a need for a simple method to determine the
the TTC helps visualize contamination, but it has been reported on
presence or absence of microorganisms in plants that manu-
facture paints and coatings. Such a determination enables the
manufacturer to establish the point of contamination (that is,
2
raw materials or problem housekeeping areas in the plant) to Please note that Tryptic Soy and Trypticase Soy are names used interchange-
ably. Pre-prepared TSA plates, BBL# 21185, are available from various microbio-
help in solving the spoilage problem.
logical supply companies.
3
Agar plates (media) may be purchased pre-prepared using the indicated Difco
NOTE 1—Some contamination in plant areas is to be expected, since
or BBL number from microbiological supply companies, or both. Media may also
microorganisms are ubiquitous and cannot generally be eliminated prac-
be prepared from the formulations given in the Difco Manual (Difco Laboratories,
Detroit, MI) or from appropriate dehydrated media using standard microbiological
techniques.
1 4
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D1
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