Our Response to Covid-19

The novel 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has progressed rapidly all around the world and has resulted in an unprecedented impact on the world’s health systems, science and society. COVID-19 is caused by a virus that belongs to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus family, known as SARS- CoV-2, which is a single-stranded RNA virus.
 
Currently, the focus of transmission is on direct personal contact through touching hands and infected surfaces as well as droplets spreading through sneezing and coughing. The current preventative measures in place include the thorough washing of hands, constant sanitisation of hands and surfaces with alcohol-based sanitisers, wearing a face mask and adhering to social distancing.
 
Human diagnostic testing has become the popular method of tracking COVID-19 infections worldwide, however, there is an additional way to track and possibly reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through surfaces: Environmental testing for COVID-19. Environmental testing is a tool that has been used to verify sources of contamination and monitor the adequacy of sanitisation processes in places like hospitals, office buildings, schools, food production companies, and others.
 
Environmental sampling helps refine the intensity and frequency of cleaning and sanitation procedures in a particular environment. This further provides awareness on contamination hotspots and early warning signs of areas that may need corrective measures.
 
Pathogen Detection Solutions provides an environmental testing service that uses an FDA approved swabbing method and machinery to detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus on high contact surfaces. By testing for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material, businesses can test the effectiveness of existing sanitisation procedures and subsequently improve them.
 
PDS uses synthetic swabs which are run through a qPCR machine which then relays the presence or absence of SARs-CoV-2 genetic material in real-time. These swabs can be used on all work surfaces, including the CDC’s list of high contact/ high touch surfaces. These include, but are not limited to:
  • Tables, countertops, desks, and workstations
  • Door handles
  • Light switches
  • Phones and keyboards
  • Toilets, faucets, and sinks
 
If your swab results receive a positive test result, PDS will provide an appropriate sanitisation protocol and service, as well as subsequent monitoring to ensure that the provided sanitisation protocol was effective in eliminating the virus.

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What is ATP Cleaning Verification?

Environmental cleaning practices play an important role in reducing the spread of bacteria and viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, however, we cannot be certain that existing cleaning procedures have adequately reduced contamination.

Our cleaning verification will provide our clients with information regarding the efficiency of their existing cleaning protocols, and provide them with improvements to protect clients and staff from infections.
The most commonly used method for verifying these cleaning practices is the ATP bioluminescence (light-producing) assay. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an enzyme that is present in all living cells and is responsible for major metabolic processes.

PDS provides a cleaning verification tool that utilises specialised ATP collection swabs. The swabs are used to sample various contact and non-contact  surfaces. Any ATP picked up from the swabbed surface will react with the luciferase enzyme in the swab and produce light. The light is reported as relative light units (RLU) using a  bioluminescence meter. The intensity of the emitted light corresponds to the amount of ATP present in the sample which then relays the amount of organic matter present in the surface sample.

This cleaning verification tool  provides quick information regarding how clean the surfaces when tested directly after cleaning. Our services alert our clients to the possible presence of all organic material including pathogenic micro-organisms.This ATP cleaning verification tool can be used to:

  • Track and verify cleaning protocols in office buildings, factories, schools, hospitals and even personal homes
  • Verify that high touch areas have been cleaned and sanitised properly
  • Verify that hands have also been washed and sanitised properly

The ATP cleaning verification tool cannot be used to detect for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces.

Information Pack

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