Are you looking for a fast way to verify your cleaning procedure?
General protein swabs allow you to easily verify that your cleaning team has done their job day-to-day. General protein swabs work by detecting protein residues left behind on countertops, conveyor belts, and any other working surfaces. Allergen-specific tests remain the gold standard of gluten and allergen management, and are generally required for procedure validation. However, pairing them with general protein swabs for daily verification can be a smart choice.
Protein swabs, which are generally quicker and less expensive than allergen-specific testing, allow you to increase the amount of data you can collect. Whether you are swabbing more test sites at a time, or swabbing more frequently, more data means a decreased risk of undetected allergen cross-contact. And that’s good news for everyone.
Protein tests will react to all sorts of proteins equally. They do not differentiate between proteins from FALCPA allergens like peanut, soy, or milk and proteins from other sources like chicken or chickpeas. The results are generally qualitative, although some swabs give a low-protein vs high-protein readout. They are also less sensitive than allergen-specific tests.
Please note: some general protein swabs will list a detection limit. These limits are often generated under ideal laboratory conditions and measuring a very specific type of protein. They are not applicable to the real world: different proteins and different conditions will have different detection limits.
Checking for residual protein on surfaces is a helpful component of any allergen control plan, but it is not a replacement for allergen-specific testing. Review our variety of allergen test kits, or contact us to learn how to combine the two categories in the most efficient way.
Are protein swabs a good match for your business?
Protein swabs are a portable, rapid and cost effective part of your comprehensive allergen management plan. Any safety team that is concerned with controlling for food allergens, whether a food processor, a manufacturer, a hospitality kitchen or a supermarket distribution center, will find these easy-to-interpret surface swabs an essential tool.
Please note: general protein swabs are not a substitute for allergen-specific tests like OnSite Multiplex Tree Nut or GlutenTox Pro Surface, and should not be used for program validation.
Hygiena AllerSnap™ and PRO-Clean™
AllerSnap™ and PRO-Clean™ general protein swabs use the biuret method*, a broad spectrum monitoring method.
Please note: PRO-Clean swabs are less sensitive than AllerSnap; for allergen verification, AllerSnap is suggested.
Product Features:
- 100 swabs/case
- Incubator required for AllerSnap
- Easy to use and interpret
- Sensitive and reliable
- Qualitative / semi-quantitative results
- LOD varies by incubation from 5-80 μg BSA.
*The biuret method is a colorimetric technique specific for proteins and peptides. Copper salts in alkaline solution form a purple complex with substances containing two or more peptide bonds. The absorbance produced is proportional to the number of peptide bonds that are reacting and therefore to the number of protein molecules present in the reaction system ~Read the article on Science Direct
Both the AllerSnap and PRO-Clean tests are easy to perform: swab the testing area and snap the bulb to release a reagent. PRO-Clean is incubated at ambient temperature, whereas AllerSnap™ is incubated via dry block incubator (sold separately, required).
After 5-15 minutes of incubation, match the color of the swab liquid to the chart on the swab shaft: green means clean and purple means re-clean.
Kits may require expedited shipping. While kits are stable at ambient temperatures, prolonged exposure to heat may decrease shelf life. You will be emailed after purchase if we require additional information and/or shipping fee adjustments.
Kits may be refrigerated upon arrival. If your storage environment regularly exceeds room temperature, you may wish to provide refrigerated storage to protect kit sensitivity.
Orders only ship Monday- Wednesday, unless an exception is requested.
Want a quote? Have questions? Contact us prior to ordering.
Bio-Check (UK) Protein OnSite-Check™ Swab
Qualitative hygiene test to assess the effectiveness of cleaning of surfaces and equipment.
The Bio-Check Protein OnSite-Check™ Swab assesses cleanliness by detecting any protein residues remaining after cleaning. It’s easy to use, and results can be read quickly. Ideal for use in any size facility
The dye in the test changes color to indicate the presence of protein. If no protein is detected, the solution will remain a copper/gold in color. A color change to any blue shade indicates protein has been detected and failure of the cleaning process. With a change to a deeper intensity of blue (e.g. sky blue) a higher level of protein is detected.
Product Features
- 25 swabs/case
- No incubator or equipment needed
- Easy to use and activate
- Easy to interpret color change
- Sensitive and reliable
- Qualitative Results. LOD: 50 μg milk, egg or soy
- Broad range, non-specific protein screening
- Eliminates mistakes and waste
- Select only visibly clean surfaces for testing.
- Remove the lower tube of the Swab Device by gently twisting and pulling the tube to separate it from the upper part of the Device.
- Without touching the swab, place the swab tip of the Device on the surface to be tested.
- Using a criss-cross approach, swab a defined portion of the surface (e.g. 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 inch), by swabbing first in one direction and then in another (at right-angles to the first) and with each back and forth sweep of the swab, rotate the swab tip, so that all sides of the swab tip collect any residues present on the surface. For best results, repeat again in a diagonal direction.
- Return the swab to the Swab Device tube and by holding the collar of the Swab Device, firmly push the bulb until the blue rod inside breaks. Firmly squeeze the bulb to push reagent through the fibres of the swab tip. Release pressure on the bulb to pull reagent back up into the bulb. Repeat slowly, at least 8 more times, until most of the liquid is now back in the tube (and not the bulb).
- Before reading the test, remove the swab from the Swab Device tube.
- Read the test by examining the color (stable for 24 hours at 20°C) of the solution in the Swab Device tube, without the swab (if the tip now appears blue in color, protein is present).
Kits should be refrigerated upon arrival. Failure to do so may result in decreased shelf life and/or sensitivity.
Kits require expedited shipping. You will be emailed after purchase if we require additional information and/or shipping fee adjustments.
Orders only ship Monday- Wednesday.
Want a quote? Have questions? Contact us prior to ordering.
Gold Standards Diagnostics Path-Chek® Protein
Path-Chek® Hygiene Protein Swabs provides a simple, rapid alternative measurement of hygiene levels with results available within a few seconds. To be considered clean, food contact surfaces and equipment must be free of all traces of food residues. The efficient removal of food residues by the application of appropriate cleaning procedures will also reduce microbiological contamination present on surfaces.
Product Features:
- Economical Two tests/swab
- Fast Results within seconds
- No need for lab facilities or incubation
- Store refrigerated or ambient at 4° – 25°C
- Separate the number of swabs required.
- Tear the swab packaging at the mid-point as indicated.
- Remove one side of the foil package to expose a swab head (do not discard foil packaging).
- Test the sample area with the exposed swab head, whilst holding remaining part of swab in foil package.
- A positive reaction is indicated by the swab head changing from yellow to green (positive = detection of protein residues) WITHIN 5 SECONDS.
- Use removed foil package to cover used swab head.
- Remove foil package to expose unused swab head to test a new sample area (as in step 3).
Materials suggested but not provided
- Sample Template for marking standards sample area (10 x 10cm)
- Clean disposable lint free disposable cloth or tissue
- Resealable plastic bag for partially-used swabs
Storage and Safety
Store unopened Path-Chek Hygiene Protein Swabs at 4 -25C. Refrigerate opened but unused swabs in a resealable bag for up to 7 days.
- Keep swabs in tightly closed container (pouch).
- Keep swabs away from sources of ignition.
- Do not smoke when using swabs.
Kits may require expedited shipping. While kits are stable at ambient temperatures, prolonged exposure to heat may decrease shelf life. You will be emailed after purchase if we require additional information and/or shipping fee adjustments.
Kits may be refrigerated upon arrival. If your storage environment regularly exceeds room temperature, you may wish to provide refrigerated storage to protect kit sensitivity.
Orders only ship Monday- Wednesday, unless an exception is requested.
Want a quote? Have questions? Contact us prior to ordering.
Looking for a more sensitive allergen control solution?
Emport’s catalog includes several LFD and ELISA tests that have the flexibility to test products, ingredients and rinsewater as well as surfaces. Kits are available for a variety of allergens: almond, crustacean, egg, fish, hazelnut, milk, mustard, peanut, soy, and walnut and more!
A partial list of allergen-specific kits is available online. If you do not see the allergen or kit you need — contact us!
