The Extraction Problem

Sampling has one big challenge. Pathogens are small and you can't see them. Add that into the fact that no surface is smooth, and the sampling process becomes very difficult. This magnified stainless steel coupon and biofilm micro colonies allow a pretty clear picture of why bacteria is going undiscovered until it hits consumer's systems. A random swab sample isn't going to cut it. As stated by one scholar, "Listeria monocytogenes, a food borne pathogen, can attach and form biofilms on a variety of solid surfaces such as stainless steel and rubber under laboratory conditions. Even on surfaces that appear smooth, bacteria are able to find harborages that can protect them from adverse conditions."