Introduction - Cantium Scientific MicroBio MB2 Operating Manual

Introduction

The MicroBio MB2 is part of the MicroBio range of bioaerosol samplers and
is one of the most economical hand-held samplers in the world for
monitoring airborne micro-organisms or bioaerosols. It is available with a
standard flow rate of 100 litres per minute or the HiFlow model with a flow
rate of 180 litres per minute.
The MicroBio range meets the standard required for a reference sampler, as
fully validated by the UK Department of Trade and Industry Validation of
Analytical Methods (VAM) programme.
The sampler collects airborne micro-organisms by drawing a stream of air at
a constant flow rate through a series of small holes in a metal head.
Particles suspended in the air stream impinge onto the surface of a sterile
culture medium in a contact plate or petri dish.
After exposure to a set volume of air, the contact plate or petri dish is
removed and incubated. The number of colonies which develop are counted,
enabling a calculation to be made to determine the concentration of micro-
organisms in the air (CFU/m 3 - colony forming units per cubic metre).
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