Standard Test Method for Determination of the Microbial Condition of Paint, Paint Raw Materials, and Plant Areas

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 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.  
3.2 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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Historical
Publication Date
31-May-2012
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ASTM D5588-97(2012) - Standard Test Method for Determination of the Microbial Condition of Paint, Paint Raw Materials, and Plant Areas
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D5588 − 97 (Reapproved 2012)
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 D5588; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
NOTE 1—Some contamination in plant areas is to be expected, since
1. Scope
microorganisms are ubiquitous and cannot generally be eliminated prac-
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for the determina-
tically (it is what an in-can preservative is supposed to control). Excessive
tion of the microbial condition (contamination or sterility) of levels of contamination or contaminated raw materials can exceed the
capability of the preservative. If you have excessive contamination in the
raw materials used in the manufacture of paint, and the
plant, there are methods for decontamination including steam,
microbial condition of paint and paint manufacturing areas.
preservatives, bleach, etc. These should be discussed with your biocide
1.2 The values in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. supplierandusedwithcare.Recoveryofspoiledorcontaminatedproducts
is often not feasible, so an adequate level of the appropriate biocide in
The values given in parentheses are for information only.
conjunction with good plant housekeeping practices are essential. Your
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
biocide supplier can also help here.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2 This test method may be used by persons without basic
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
microbiological training, but some training on aseptic tech-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
niques would be recommended.
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
samples for sterility testing from wet or dry materials and plant
recommended that you consult with your biocide supplier, raw material
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
contamination, if any, and (4) provide a guide for some
4. Apparatus and Materials
indication of the type of contamination present (bacterial,
4.1 Balance, capable of weighing to 0.10 g.
fungal, yeast, etc.). This test method is not designed to include
all the necessary precautions to maintain the level of sterility
4.2 Incubator, or other device capable of maintaining a
required to provide the most accurate results. Some familiarity
constant temperature between 28 and 32°C.
with microbiological techniques is recommended.
4.3 Refrigerator.
2 3
3. Significance and Use
4.4 TrypticSoyAgar(TSA)Plates, pre-prepared. (SeeNote
3).
3.1 Spoilage of paint in the container is often related to the
4
use of contaminated raw materials, water (particularly recycled
4.5 Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) Plates, or Malt Agar
5
washwater), vessels, piping, and equipment in the manufactur-
Plates, acidified to pH 3.5 with lactic acid, pre-prepared.
ing plant. There is a need for a simple method to determine the
presence or absence of microorganisms in plants that manu-
facture paints and coatings. Such a determination enables the
2
Please note that Tryptic Soy and Trypticase Soy are names used interchange-
manufacturer to establish the point of contamination (that is, ably. Pre-prepared TSA plates, BBL# 21185, are available from various microbio-
logical supply companies.
raw materials or problem housekeeping areas in the plant) to
3
Agar plates (media) may be purchased pre-prepared using the indicated Difco
help in solving the spoilage problem.
or BBL number from microbiological supply companies, or both. Media may also
be prepared from the formulations given in the Difco Manual (Difco Laboratories,
Detroit, MI) or from appropriate dehydrated media using standard microbiological
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint techniques.
4
and Related Coatings, Materials, andApplications and is the direct responsibility of Pre-prepared plates available are Difco # 4360-22-0, or BBL # 96272. These
Subcommittee D01.28 on Biodeterioration.
...

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