This Whirl-Pak® Speci-Sponge® environmental surface sampling bag is designed for environmental surface sampling of work areas, equipment, animal carcasses, and any other place where testing for Listeria, Salmonella, E.coli, coliforms, and other foodborne pathogens or anthrax is required.

• Available with dry or hydrated sponge
• Bag can be frozen to any temperature, even with liquid nitrogen, but should not be used at temperatures above 180 °F (82 °C)
• Wearing a sterile glove when wiping with the sponge is recommended to help prevent contamination
• Disposable sterile glove is included in some sets

Dry sets: Dry sponge inluded inside the bag is free of bactericides and has been tested to be non-inhibitory. Sponge measures approximately 1-1/2 x 3 x 5/8in (3.8 x 7.6 x 1.5 cm) when wet.

Hydrated sets: Buffer contains 10mL of monopotassium phosphate, sodium thiosulfate, and aryl sulfonate complex that will neutralize several surface sanitizers. Bag is packaged in a foil liner bag to prevent evaporation of the buffer.

Some sets come with a sterile glove attached in a bottom compartment. To use the glove, tear off the glove pack along the perforation. The glove is folded with the open end slightly extended so the glove can be held and shaken open without touching the hand area.

After the sample has been collected and the sponge returned to the bag, it can be sent to a lab for testing. In the lab, media may be added directly to the bag and the sample incubated inside the bag for a +/- test, or the sample may be squeezed out of the sponge, pipetted, and plated out.

Shelf life from sterilisation date found on the sterility documentation: 2 years from sterilised date found on your Sterility Confirmation due to the buffer. Two-year shelf-life with ambient storage at 2 to 30 °C (36 to 86 °F).