How to get an ISO 11737-1 Test Report?

What is a Bioburden Test?

A bioburden test is an assessment of the level of MICrobial contamination on a device to ensure compliance with regULatory standards and safety for use. This test is performed before any sterilization process on the device and is essential—without it, no regulatory submission can be completed.

EN ISO 11737-1 is a standard specifically designed to determine the number of viable microorganisms present on or within medical devices, components, raw materials, or packaging. Bioburden testing is crucial for manufacturers wishing to comply with regulations.

How is a Bioburden Test Performed?

The aim of the bioburden test is to quantify and identify microorganisms to ensure the product meets specified quality standards and regulations. Below is a brief overview of how it is performed:

1. Sample Collection: Representative samples are collected from the medical device under sterile conditions.

2. Sample Preparation: Microorganisms are extracted from the sample and appropriately diluted for counting.

3. Microbial Count: The quantification of viable microorganisms is carried out using plate counting or membrane filtration methods. Plate counting involves spreading the diluted sample on an agar plate, culturing it, and then counting the visible colonies to determine the bioburden. Membrane filtration involves filtering the sample through a membrane before counting and measuring.

4. Microbial Identification: At this stage, microorganisms are identified as needed.

5. Analysis and Reporting: The results are analyzed, and a comprehensive report is generated, including bioburden levels and identified microorganisms.

6. Validation and Calibration: The testing methods are validated for accuracy and precision.

Do the following standards comply with EN ISO 11737-1, ISO 11737-2, and ISO 11137-2?

The full name of this standard is "EN ISO 11737-1:2018 – Sterilization of healthcare products – Microbiological methods – Part 1: Determination of population of microorganisms on products."

It is part of a series of standards related to the sterilization of medical products, including ISO 11737-2, ISO 11737-3, and ISO 11737-4.

JJR Lab in China has experts in microbiology, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance who are well-versed in these standards, including EN ISO 11737-1, ISO 11737-2, and ISO 11137-2.

Testing: JJR is fully capable of performing the necessary tests according to the requirements specified by the standards. This includes bioburden testing, as well as sterility and other microbial parameter testing.

Validation: ISO 11137-2 specifically concerns sterilization of healthcare products by radiation. JJR can perform validation studies of the radiation sterilization process—dose verification, bioburden determination, and related studies—to help ensure compliance with the effectiveness of the standards.

Documentation: JJR provides comprehensive and compliant documentation to help streamline the regulatory submission process. Furthermore, JJR keeps a close eye on changes and updates to the standards to help you proactively document your files.