Workflow · Step 04 · Reading

Record colony counts. Keep every result in context.

BioTrends EM® connects each reading with the original sample, incubation history and applicable limits. Record colony counts, highlight excursions and link microbial identification results for review and trend analysis.

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01 — SAMPLE IDENTIFICATION

Scan the plate.
Open the right record.

Scan a plate to retrieve the sample ready for reading, together with its monitoring point, incubation history and applicable limits. BioTrends EM® checks that the plate is available for the selected reading step and records the count with the operator and reading time.

02 — Alert and action limits

Identify excursions as results are entered.

Entered counts are compared with the alert and action limits configured for the sampling point. Visual indicators and messages highlight results requiring attention, supporting subsequent review and investigation.
The examples shown are illustrative. Applicable limits depend on the sampling method, unit and site procedure.

Session · Filling room — Grade B Read 1 · bacteria

AIR-B-01plate 8841-A 0in limits

SURF-B-04plate 8842-A 2in limits

SURF-B-07plate 8843-A 8alert

GLOVE-B-02plate 8844-A 23action

Action level exceeded — the operator is told before the session moves on. alert 5 · action 15 CFU

Limits are per point, not per page: the values above stand for one room in one class. The colour is a prompt to act, not a verdict — the deviation, the investigation and the decision remain the responsibility of the people who own the process.

03 —READING MODES

Single or sequential readings.

Record a single final reading after one or two incubation stages, or an intermediate reading followed by a second reading. The default result-field labels, Bacteria and Fungi, can be customized to match local terminology.

SINGLE READING

Record the final count.

Enter the final count values after a single incubation or after the second stage of a two-stage workflow. Results remain linked to the sample and its complete incubation history.

Record the intermediate count.

Enter the first reading after the initial incubation stage. The result is retained as the plate proceeds to its second incubation.

Complete the sequential reading.

Record the second reading after the second incubation stage. Both readings remain associated with the original sample for review and analysis.

04 — No growth

Record zero-growth results efficiently.

Use the No Growth function to record zero-CFU results for multiple plates without repeatedly entering the same value. Each plate retains its own result and traceable reading record.

0000000000 0000000000

05 — MICROBIAL IDENTIFICATION

Connect identification results to the original sample.

For samples with a positive colony count, record identified microorganisms, including genus and species, together with the identification date and analyst. Results can be added after session closure, preserving their link to the original monitoring activity and supporting microorganism frequency and distribution analysis.

Import identification results from supported systems, including MALDI-TOF, or integrate other instruments through compatible CSV, XLS or similar exports.

What happens next

From reading to verification and review.

Where configured, a different operator verifies the colony count before the session proceeds to signed closure and any required approval.