Product FAQs

Biocide Rapide Tests should be stored refrigerated between 2-8°C.

The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the antimicrobial in use might be affected either in a synergistic fashion or antagonistic manner by other chemicals in the liquid being tested.  Therefore it is always recommended to conduct a calibration for the antimicrobial being used in a sample of the liquid.

Standardise your test protocol as much as possible:

• Standardise the time of removal from refrigerated storage before use.  Ensure adequate time is allowed for ampules to reach ambient temperature.
• Standardise the incubation period for each ampule  at 3.5 hours (or a time you have decided on for your testing).
• Ensure each operator understands what is a positive and negative result and thus avoid subjective operator errors.

A change in the colour of the gel from purple to yellow indicates the growth of the Bacillus spores, indicating that the sample does not contain sufficient anti-microbial chemical to inhibit their growth. No colour change indicates the presence of enough anti-microbial chemical to prevent the Bacillus spores from growing.

Biocide Rapide™ can be used to test a variety of samples, including fuels, metalworking fluids, waters, water-based samples and more.

The Biocide Rapide™ test ampoules should be incubated at 64°C, 10 ampoule incubator blocks are sold specifically for this purpose or as part of the Starter Pack.   Laboratories often operate heated water baths that can be utilised for this purpose as an alternative.

Results can be obtained rapidly, within just a few hours (3.5 hours of incubation).

Biocide Rapide™ offers a dependable indication of whether a given sample may have been treated with an anti-microbial chemical such as a Biocide. It is a well-established method for assessing the presence and concentration of anti-microbials across various sample types.

Biocide Rapide™ comprises gel-filled ampules containing the spores of a thermophilic Bacillus and an indicator that changes from purple to yellow upon growth within the ampule. This straightforward colour-change indication technology is widely acknowledged as a reliable, semi-quantitative technique for detecting the presence or absence of anti-microbial chemicals.

The test kit is easily used by placing your sample (or dilutions of your sample) into a gel-filled ampule provided in the pack, and then incubating it at a consistent temperature of 64°C for 3.5 hours.

Following incubation, the growth of the Bacillus spores can be evaluated by inspecting the ampule, specifically noting any change in the colour of the gel. If there is no change in colour, it indicates that the sample contained enough anti-microbial chemical to prevent the growth of the Bacillus spores.

The Biocide Rapide™ test is used to test samples to detect the presence of anti-microbial chemicals such as biocides

The Biocide Rapide™ test is available in packs of 25 tests and 100 tests.  A starter pack is also available which includes a pack of 25 tests and an incubator block.