• Easy to use
  
  
• Proven viable sampling
• Meets ACGIH recommendations for bioaerosol sampling
• Meets NIOSH Method 0800 and 0801 requirements
• Studies show performance equivalent to Andersen N-6 and similar samplers**
  
  
• Corrosion-resistant aluminum
• Autoclavable•
  


• Collected organisms remain intact and viable
  
  
• Easy setup and calibration
  
  
• Uses standard-size agar plates
  
  
• SureLock positive seal ensures sample integrity

 

•	Remove O-rings prior to autoclaving.
**	Samimi, B. and Shufutinsky, A., "Comparison of the Thermo-Andersen N6, the Aerotech A6, the SKC BioStage, and the SKC Micromedia Viable Samplers in the Collecting Airborne Fungal Spores," AIHce, San Diego, CA, Final Program, p. 43

 

 

Applications

• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) studies
• Filter and cleanroom efficiency studies
• Pharmaceutical production
• Brewery fermentation
• Animal care laboratories
• Food processing areas
• Sewage treatment plants
• Hospital environments
• Cosmetic manufacturing
• Grain processing and transportation
• Bio-risk response

 

 

Performance Profile

Flow Rate	28.3 L/min
Material	Inlet cone and base plate: Precision-tooled autoclavable aluminum O-rings: Duro 50, BUNA-N (not autoclavable )
Jet Classification Stage	400 holes (0.25-mm hole diameter
Median Cut-point (D50)	0.6 µm
Sample Media	90 to 100-mm agar plates*
Suggested Media	For bacteria: Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) Blood Agar Plates (BAP) For fungi (viable): Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) Malt Extract Agar (MEA) Dichloran Glycerol 18 Agar (DG-18) Corn Meal Agar (CMA)
Analysis	Colony culture‡
Tubing	1/4-inch ID

 

*	Requires microbiological media supplied by analytical laboratories. For lab list see the: BioStage Analytical Laboratories Reference List or visit the AIHA website at www.aiha.org.
‡	In situations where spore counts are high, positive hole correction should be used. See Macher, J., "Positive-Hole Correction of Multiple-jet Impactors for Collecting Viable Microorganisms," American Industrial Hygiene Journal, 50 (11), 1989, pp. 561-568

 

 

The BioStage single-stage cascade impactor operates on the principle of inertial impaction and meets NIOSH and ACGIH recommendations for sampling indoor and outdoor air for mold and bacteria. Made of precision-tooled aluminum, the sampler contains a jet classification stage and base plate precision-threaded together for a positive seal and an inlet cone. The impactor stage contains precision-drilled holes. A sample pump draws air through the sampler where multiple jets of air direct airborne particles toward the surface of the agar collection medium.

Only SKC offers the SureLock positive seal advantage! The SKC BioStage Cascade Impactor is constructed with the same 400-hole jet classification stage as the Andersen N-6 Impactor. However, only the SKC BioStage features the SureLock positive seal that:

• Prevents air leaks to ensure complete sample integrity
• Does not depend on spring clamps that wear out or fail
• Requires minimal maintenance

Single-stage impactor with spring clamps	Single-stage BioStage with SureLock Seal

Operation The BioStage single-stage impactor is easy to use. A barbed outlet fitting allows fast and easy connection to a vacuum pump. The SureLock positive seal keeps the jet classification stage and agar plate securely in place and prevents leakage during sampling. Sampling is as simple as sealing an agar plate inside the BioStage, connecting the impactor to a pump such as the QuickTake 30 operating at the appropriate flow rate, sampling for two to five minutes,removing the agar plate, and sending it to a qualified laboratory for analysis.

The QuickTake 30 The SKC QuickTake 30 Sample Pump is designed for easy use with the SKC BioStage and other impaction devices that require flows to 30 L/min - it provides the constant 28.3 L/min flow rate for the BioStage. The mounting bracket accessory holds the BioStage Impactor securely onto the QuickTake 30 sample pump for fast setup, easy sampling, and portability.

MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aures (MRSA) infections occur typically in hospitals, elder and child care facilities, gyms, schools, and jails. A 2008 IAQA presentation** recommends a viable cascade impactor (such as the SKC BioStage) with ChromAgar for sample times of two to five minutes for sampling MRSA in air and sterile swabs for sampling MRSA on surfaces where the superbug can live for weeks to a month.

**	Samimi, B. and Shufutinsky, A., "Comparison of the Thermo-Andersen N6, the Aerotech A6, the SKC BioStage, and the SKC Micromedia Viable Samplers in the Collecting Airborne Fungal Spores," AIHce, San Diego, CA, Final Program, p. 43
	Yao, M. and Mainelis, G., "Analysis of Portable Impactor Performance for Enumeration of Viable Bioaerosols," Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Vol. 4, Issue 7, July 2007, pp. 514-524
	Dobranic, J., Superbugs in Our Communities – An Introduction for the IEQ Professional, EMSL. Presented at 2008 IAQ Conference, Tampa, FL

 

 

BioStage Operating Instructions (PDF)

BioStage Product Spec. Sheet (PDF)

BioStage Analytical Laboratories Reference List

Reference: Positive-Hole Correction of Multiple-jet Impactors for Collecting Viable Microorganisms (PDF)