Handswabs to ensure peoples handwashing is effective

We do some handswab testing after washing to ensure peoples handwashing is effective. Great. Normally though the team see my QAs coming and are far more rigorous than they would normally be (I've got them a place to hide and get people by surprise so we're working on that) what I'd like to do is in production hand swabs to ensure people are washing their hands at appropriate frequencies during the shift.

But what to test for? Would S. aureus be the most sensible thing?

BUMP for GMO.

Thanks Simon,

Also, I don't think we're testing for enough dets on post handwashing swabs either so if you have recommendations for both that'd be cool. This is in a site handling cheese so TVCs in the workroom would be meaningless btw.

Hi GMO.

The most sensible things to test hand swabs for would be staph aureus as you correctly state, but also E. coli - in order to check that hands have been properly washed after a trip to the loo.

Hi GMO.

The most sensible things to test hand swabs for would be staph aureus as you correctly state, but also E. coli - in order to check that hands have been properly washed after a trip to the loo.

Exactly-- but i'd say make sure the tests mean something to you..

But the basic 2 tests you can do is TPC or heterotrophic plate count (you'd be worried if you get millions of these) and coliforms ( which is an indicator test) with stipulation that if its postive then to screen further for E.coli ..this could save you money as well...

Any more input on checking the effectiveness of hadwashing?

We've gone for enteros and staph but only after handwashing. TPC is meaningless as I said before for my food product and also I want to be doing something in the workroom during production to see if people are washing regularly enough.