Frequently Asked Questions

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Hospital – Office- Institutional- Buildings (Click here for details)

Q. Are you interested in ensuring your premises being free of contamination from microbiological pathogens?

A. PBR provides air and surface sampling services to monitor the sanitary conditions and levels of contamination from general microbes (bacteria and mold) by identifying indicator pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, Candida albicans, molds like black mold Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, etc., ensuring a contamination free indoor environment.

Q. Are you aware of Legionnairs’ disease ?

A. This disease is caused by a bacterium called Legionella. Among the 48 species of Legionella, Legionella pneumophila is responsible for approximately 90% of infections. These bacteria live in environmental sources and in ma-made water systems such as recreational water systems and water distribution systems. They can survive in a wide range of temperatures and pH, inhabiting in cooling towers, air-conditioning units, humidifiers, bath tubs, spas, water taps, etc. PBR offers full sampling and testing services for Legionella bacteria.

Residential dwellings (Click here for details)

Q. Has your home had a flood recently? If so, have you checked for mold growth and fecal contamination?

A. PBR provides laboratory services to detect, enumerate and identify various types of mold and Fecal and Total Coliform groups of bacteria. .

Q. Does your home have a musty smell in isolated areas of your house?

A. PBR provides air sampling services to help you determine the presence and sources of mold in your air, heating ducts, etc..

WATER QUALITY

POTABLE WATER (Click here for details)

Q. Are you buying an acreage and require water testing to obtain a mortgage?

A. PBR provides prompt, efficient and personal service in performing water testing as required by banks and other landing institutions.

Q. Are you familiar with the Canadian Drinking Water Standards?

A. PBR offers complete analysis as prescribed by the Canadian Guidelines for drinking water quality including the target pathogens such as E.coli 0157:H7 found in Walkerton water supply a few years ago.

Q. Is there a concern for cyanobacterial toxins such as microcystins known to cause liver disease and cancer ?

A. PBR can analyze your water samples and provide quantitative data for the concentration of microcystin toxins.

RECREATIONAL WATER (Click here for details)

Q. Do you know that the recreational facilities such as bathing beaches, swimming pool, sauna, spa, hot tub, whirl pool etc. may develop contamination of pathogens (disease causing microorganisms)?

A. PBR offers comprehensive monitoring services for raw waters as well as processed waters for bacterial and viral contaminations.

RAW, PROCESS AND WASTE WATERS AND SLUDGE (Click here for details)

Q. Do you have a requirement for biological monitoring of raw water supply, industrial use or process waters for the contamination of bacteria, viruses and protozoa?

A. PBR offers testing and monitoring services for bacterial contamination including identification of various pathogens (total fecal coliforms, E.coli 0157:H7, Legionella, Enterococci, Staphylococci, Klebsiella spp. Actinomycetes, etc.) and protozoa like Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

Q. Are you interested in iron and sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB’s)?

A. PBR can analyze water and soil samples for enumerating iron reducing and oxidizing bacteria and SRB’s . We also detect the presence of SRB’s with the hydrogenase enzyme kit.

FOOD QUALITY

FOOD, NUTRACEUTICALS, PROBIOTICS AND FEED ANALYSES (Click here for details)

Q. Does your food company have someone to check your raw materials and final products for microbiological contamination?

A. PBR analyses food samples using the most up-to-date and approved technologies for all food pathogens such as E. coli, Listeria, E. coli 0157:H7 (known to cause hamburger disease), Salmonella, etc.

Q. Are mycotoxins (such as aflatoxins, Ochratoxin, Zearalenone, etc.) microcystins or allergens are of concern in your food and dairy products, cereals, nutraceuticals?

A. PBR is equipped to analyze various food products, cereals, and nutraceutical/functional foods for all mycotoxins and cyanobacterial toxins (microcystins).

Q. Do you need help with sterility audits of your food processing facility or sterility and bioburden check on your product?

A. PBR can perform sterility audits processing facilities test products for sterility and bioburden following U.S. Pharmacopoeia protocols.

Q. Do you require shelf-life study of your product?

A. PBR offers microbiological shelf-life studies including accelerated shelf-life to help you avoid delay in shipping your product to the retailers.

Q. Are you concerned about possible contamination of your product with Clostridium botulinum bacteria?

A. PBR can analyze your product for the presence of the botulinum toxin producing bacteria, Clostridium botulinum and assist you in controlling the growth of this bacterium in you food products.

Q. Do you need help in implementing HACCP at your production or processing facility?

A. PBR has experienced microbiologists and all required testing capabilities to assist you in developing and implementing HACCP program at your facility.

Q. Are you a probiotics producer and need to identify the product components and test antibiotic susceptibility of the microorganisms involved?

A. PBR has expertise to identify microorganisms in your product and test for antibiotic susceptibility against various antibiotics.

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