EDUCATION

Testing Cans & Bottles
PROCESS OVERVIEW
Craft beverages packaged in cans or bottles are easily tested for the presence of spoilage bacteria and wild yeast using FastOrange bouillon broth products.
Combine finished product in a 1:1 ratio with FastOrange B (2036-1) or FastOrange Wild Yeast (2039-1) and incubate.
Contaminated product will change the media color from violet to yellow and may form sediment or haze.
Enriched samples can then be further tested via PCR.
ESSENTIAL
Create a STERILE FIELD and follow ASEPTIC SAMPLING TECHNIQUE when performing the testing steps below
TARGET SPOILERS
LACTIC ACID BACTERIA
Lactobacillus
Pediococcus
STRICTLY ANAEROBIC BACTERIA
Megasphera
Pectinatus
WILD YEAST
Brettanomyces
Diastaticus
IMPORTANT NOTICE
DO NOT AUTOCLAVE
FASTORANGE PRODUCTS.
They are sterile and ready-to-use
directly out of their container.
FAST ORANGE USES
More Testing Topics Coming Soon…
> Chasing Brettanomyces
> Chasing Diastaticus
> Isolating Wild Yeast
> PCR Pre-Enrichment
> Propagating Brettanomyces
> Testing Barrels
> Testing CIP Rinse Water
> Testing Draft Systems
> Testing Gaskets
> Testing Hoses
> Testing Pitching Yeast
EQUIPMENT*
Needed to Perform Test
- Spray or wash bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol
- Clean paper towels
- Bunsen burner
- Butane torch or lighter
- Sterile flask or Whirl-Pak with volume of > 200 ml
- Appropriate FastOrange media
*Consult lab equipment list
STEP 1
Prepare Work Area
-Follow procedure for preparing work area for sample processing.
STEP 2
Prepare Medium
-Working inside the area just cleaned, create a sterile field then…
–Pipette or pour 50 ml of 2036 or 2039 media into the number of sterile flasks or whirl-paks that equal the number of tests being performed.
-Close or cover media containers.
NOTE: Once opened, we recommend dispensing all of the original bottle’s contents.
-Tubes, bottles, or Whirl-Paks filled with FastOrange, when stored at room temperature and away from light, can be kept ready for use for weeks or months.
STEP 3
Prepare Packaged Products
-Clean and rinse outside of all cans or bottles to be tested, including lids or caps
-Spray top of first can or bottle, including lid or cap, with 70% isopropyl alcohol
-Set alcohol bottle aside, safely away from working area
-Ignite the top of the container and allow flame to extinguish on its own
-Clean hands with soap and water then apply hand disinfectant.
STEP 4
Combine Product and Medium
-Working inside a sterile field, carefully open the first container and discard ~20% of the volume into a bucket or sink
-Gently swirl the remaining volume to re-suspend any sediment that may have precipitated out during storage
-Pour 50 ml of re-suspended product into the first FastOrange flask or pak
-Repeat if testing the same package across multiple FastOrange media or if running duplicates of the same medium.
STEP 5
Incubate
-Cover flask or seal whirl-pak and place upright in a warm area or incubator
-To prevent spills or leaks, place flasks or paks inside a shallow pan or bucket before heating.
-Incubate at 25 ± 2 °C (77 ± 4 °F) for 3-7 days