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PRESS RELEASE September 18, 2007
FDA and NCIMS APPROVE A SAFER, MORE ACCURATE METHOD OF TANK
SAMPLING FOR MILK TANKER TRUCKS


    QMI® Aseptic Sampling Method Approved for Use by

      Milk Haulers and Dairy Plants

OAKDALE, MN SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 – Recent publication of FDA memo IMS-a-46

Actions of the 2007 National Conference on Interstate Milk Shippers, authorizes use of the

QMI® Aseptic Sampling System for sampling milk tanker trucks.

Bob Gilchrist, Fluid Milk Marketing and Transportation Manager of Agri-Mark supports this

innovative method of sampling. Agri-Mark of Lawrence, MA, is a leader in milk production

and has used the QMI method for a long time.

“We have found the QMI Aseptic Sampling method to be a safe, convenient, accurate and

economical method of sampling milk tanker trucks” said Gilchrist. “The QMI system is exactly

what this industry needs to sample without having to open the top hatch of the milk

tanker.”

The QMI method of sampling from the side or rear of a locked compartment on a milk

tanker truck has several advantages. First, the QMI method allows for a more accurate and

representative sample. The sample is also collected aseptically, meaning it reduces the

chance of contamination of the milk by bacterial, chemical or environmental contaminants.

Second, it helps with receiving bay efficiency by allowing samples to be taken before trucks

enter the receiving bay. This benefit is a particular advantage to milk processors facing a continual

issue of congestion and delay in milk unloading. Third, this method helps the industry

comply with the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act by controlling access to the

milk load. Finally, it improves sampling safety by allowing samples to be taken from the

ground, meaning drivers and milk plant employees are no longer required to make the dangerous

climb to the top of the milk tanker truck to collect samples.

Darrell Bigalke, President of QMI, stated, “This application of the QMI Aseptic Sampling

method provides a significant benefit to the dairy industry. For the first time dairy processors

and milk haulers will be able to collect clean, representative samples of their milk load, and

do it efficiently and safely.”

An FDA guided study was conducted, comparing the QMI method of sampling to the currently

approved method of dip sampling. The FDA found that the data collected by the two

methods were not statistically different and determined that the QMI Aseptic Sampling

method is an equivalent and reasonable alternative to dip sampling. This is good news for

the dairy industry.

Quality Management, Inc. (dba QMI®), based in Oakdale, MN has a 30-year history in the

development and sales of high quality sampling products for dairy processing plants, dairy

farms, pharmaceutical manufacturing and biotechnology. QMI markets the QMI Aseptic

Sampling System, the QMI Aseptic Transfer System, the QMI Safe-Septum and the QMI

Composite (Farm) Sampling System. More than 1,000 dairy processing plants around the

world routinely use QMI sampling devices.


 
 
 
QMI® Introduces Prototype Tamper-Resistant Device




QMI® has been manufacturing the QMI® Aseptic Sampling System since 1983. Since that time, we've introduced the QMI® Safe-Septum and the QMI® Aseptic Transfer System. Our products have been accepted worldwide and they are presently being used in 28 countries. We are marketing them to a wide variety of industries including the dairy processing, dairy farm, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, beverage, brewing and other industries that have a need to sample liquid processes. Our products have been proven to be valuable tools for many QA/QC programs such as HACCP systems.

Thus far our products have been used in facilities that are maintained and controlled by production, management, QA/QC and other personnel. Recently several of our customers have expressed interest in using QMI® products in isolated areas such as an over-the-road tankers, isolated piping systems and other less frequently monitored areas. Under these conditions, unwanted injections or product removal could be a concern. 

To reduce the risk of tampering or unwanted removal of product, QMI® has developed two devices:  the QMI® Tamper-Evident Device is a white cap that fits over the nut.  The blue QMI® Security Seal is numbered for easy record keeping within a laboratory facility.  The cap cannot be removed unless the Security Seal is cut.

The QMI® Tamper-Resistant Device is a stainless cap that locks the nut into place covering the Aseptic Sampler completely.  Samples cannot be taken, nor can injections be made, unless the device is unlocked and removed.

QMI® is interested in feedback from our customers in order to gauge the need for this device. If you are interested in learning more about this product, please contact QMI® by phone, e-mail or fax.







QMI® Promotes an Effective Method of Post-Pasteurization Contamination Monitoring

One of the primary causes of dairy product quality defects is post-pasteurization contamination (PPC) with gram-negative psychrotrophic bacteria. In recent years research has shown that the level of post-pasteurization contamination of gram-negative bacteria in pasteurized milk can be extremely low. This research showed that contamination rates as low as one bacteria per liter can cause spoilage and other product defects in a short time if the growth rate of that bacteria is extremely fast. Other research has shown that the growth rate is dependent on storage temperature and oxygen concentrations of the milk.

For example, it is possible for a gram-negative bacteria to cause quality defects at 7°C (45°F) in as little as 10 days under ideal growth conditions of saturated oxygen in milk.

To effectively monitor dairy processes for the potential of contamination of the gram-negative psychrotrophic bacteria or to identify sources of contamination it is important to use effective process monitoring procedures. Effective process monitoring requires:
  1. Aseptic sample collection,
  2. Collection of large sample volumes (50-500 ml),
  3. Oxygen concentration that is similar to the oxygen concentration in the stored product,
  4. Incubation time sufficient to allow for low level contaminant to reach a level that can be counted using standard laboratory procedures, and
  5. Laboratory procedures that are sensitive for detecting psychrotrophic bacteria (spoilage bacteria).
A procedure that has worked for identifying post-pasteurization contamination is sampling with the QMI® Aseptic Sampling System and using the QMI® Composite Sampling Bag. The sample is then incubated for 7 days at 45 F and a SPC con-ducted (Mosely Keeping Quality Test). The sample is then held at 45 F until the end of code and another SPC conducted.

Validation Studies have proven that the QMI® Aseptic Sampling System will prevent contamination of both the sample and the product during sampling. In addition, the QMI® Composite Sampling Bag has proven to be a method of obtaining large samples aseptically (2 Liter and 5 Liter samples). An added feature of the QMI® Composite Sampling Bag is that is has oxygen permeability that will allow the gram-negative bacteria to grow in the same fashion as they would in product storage containers. In other words, with the QMI® Composite Sampling Bag, there is no need to add additional air or oxygen to a sample to promote the same growth rate of the contaminate as there would be in a product that has been fully oxygen saturated through pumping, agitating and filling procedures.

To illustrate the oxygen permeability of the QMI® composite Sampling Bag a study was conducted at the University of minnesota's Biological Technology Institue. In this study, sterilized milk was inoculated with a pseudomonas bacterial at a population of about 60 organisms per liter. the inoculated milk was filled in the three composite bags and three 60cc syringes and then incubated in the refrigerator at 7º (45F). Bags and syringes containing uninoculated milk served as contraols. In the inoculated composite bags, the presence of the bacteria was clearly evident within 6 days (table 1). By contrast, the inoculated syringes required 21 days to definitively confirm the presence of bacteria. The faster results obtained with the composite bags seem to be due to the better oxygen permeability of the bags.

To learn more about this study or other methods of monitoring Post-Pasteurization Contamination, please contact QMI® .


Good News for Dairy Farmers !

 




U of M Biotechnology Resource Center

The University of Minnesota’s Biotechnology Resource Center is one of the corner stones of Biodale, a coalition of biotechnology service facilities that are co-located in Gortner Laboratory and Snyder Hall on the St. Paul campus. These service facilities were conceived to accelerate the research and development process for University and industrial scientists by combining the most sophisticated equipment with a staff of dedicated and highly trained experts.

The Biotechnology Resource Center is staffed by a team of six highly experienced scientists: a microbiologist, a biochemist, a biochemical engineer, two molecular biologists, and a fermentation technician, plus several student lab attendants. This broad-based expertise enables the Biotechnology Resource Center to offer services in the areas of microbial testing, strain development, fermentation, protein expression, and protein purification, as well as a broad range of molecular biology techniques. The core equipment includes 13 fermentors ranging in volume from 5 L to 300-L each being connected to state-of-the-art computer control and data acquisition systems. In addition, the Biotechnology Resource center is equipped with a wide range of downstream processing units, as well as sophisticated analytical instruments.

For QMI® , the Biotechnology Resource Center has conducted extensive microbial challenge tests to verify the reliable performance of the Safe-Septum sampling ports. A recent study also demonstrated the accelerated detection of gram-negative milk spoilage organisms through the use of QMI® sampling bags. For more information visit the website: http://www.bti.umn.edu/brc or contact Dr. Marc von Keitz directly (ph: 612-624-6758, e-mail: vonkeitz@cbs.umn.edu).



QMI (Quality Management, Inc.)
426 Hayward Avenue North
Oakdale Minnesota 55128

Ask for your complimentary copy of the Safe Septum Training Video on CD today. 
We'll even take care of the shipping cost.

Tel: 651-501-2337  Fax: 651-501-5797   Email: info@qmisystems.com

*Manufactured under license from Galloway Co., Neenah, WI
**QMI products are protected by the following U.S. Patents: 4,941,517; 5,086,813; 5,269,350,5,119,473