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What to Do When Swab Supplies Are Running Low?

Started by , Oct 25 2024 05:10 PM
8 Replies

Hello,

 

I have been trying to buy EV/FCS swabs from multiple companies, and everywhere has 3 months or more of a wait time to ship them. Unsure of what to do next, as I will be out by late November. If anyone has any input, please let me know.

 

What happens if I am unable to procure more and miss my testing for a month or 2? We are both FDA RTE and USDA RTE, and a very small facility/company. 

 

Thanks in advance.

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Is the lab that you use not able to ship you swabs? Have you checked with other laboratories, as well? I use Matrix Sciences and they are really good at sending swabs within a week. Below is a sales email for matrix sciences if you wanted to reach out to them and see if they have what you need. '

 

Sales@matrixscience.com

1 Thank

Is the lab that you use not able to ship you swabs? Have you checked with other laboratories, as well? I use Matrix Sciences and they are really good at sending swabs within a week. Below is a sales email for matrix sciences if you wanted to reach out to them and see if they have what you need. '

 

Sales@matrixscience.com

 

Oh, I never thought about trying to order them from the lab I send them to. Thanks, ill give that a go.

Oh, I never thought about trying to order them from the lab I send them to. Thanks, ill give that a go.

 

Perfect! I hope they are able to provide you with what you need in a timely manner. 

But to further answer your questions, if you were to have missed swabbing for a month or two, I think a corrective action would be necessary to find the root cause of why it happened and what can be done to prevent it in the future. Also, performing the swabs that were missed during that time and then the regular routine schedule swabs asap when swabs arrive. You can and may face non conformances from regulatory agencies and those can have fines at minimum. 

There's a shortage everywhere right now. If you have to, you could probably use Neogen Quick Swabs as a temporary measure and swab small areas. They are available on Nelson-Jameson. Like someone else said, we use Matrix as our lab and supplier of swabs. Hopefully they don't run out! I just placed an order. 

Hello,

 

I have been trying to buy EV/FCS swabs from multiple companies, and everywhere has 3 months or more of a wait time to ship them. Unsure of what to do next, as I will be out by late November. If anyone has any input, please let me know.

 

What happens if I am unable to procure more and miss my testing for a month or 2? We are both FDA RTE and USDA RTE, and a very small facility/company. 

 

Thanks in advance.

For a high five and handshake (also a shipping label) I can send 40 World Industries sponge swabs.  They will expire in April 2025 and our EMP is low risk so will get thrown out anyways.  If you can use them.  

 

https://www.worldbio...nge-orders.html

EZ Reach™ polyurethane 100/case 
Item #
​HiCap™ Neutralizing Broth 10 ml, 24 oz bag
EZ-10HC-PUR

 

For a high five and handshake (also a shipping label) I can send 40 World Industries sponge swabs.  They will expire in April 2025 and our EMP is low risk so will get thrown out anyways.  If you can use them.  

 

https://www.worldbio...nge-orders.html

EZ Reach™ polyurethane 100/case 
Item #
​HiCap™ Neutralizing Broth 10 ml, 24 oz bag
EZ-10HC-PUR

 

 

 

Thank you so much! I might take you up on that. I have placed an order from the actual lab that I send them to, and If it is delayed, like every other order I have placed, I will let you know and send you a label.

Thank you so much! I might take you up on that. I have placed an order from the actual lab that I send them to, and If it is delayed, like every other order I have placed, I will let you know and send you a label.

Best of luck and let me know, happy to help!  

This might be a great opportunity to assess your current swabbing frequency. Are you able to do less swabbing and still maintain compliance? Can you adjust your production day to have fewer clean/changeovers thus requiring fewer swab sessions? 

Review the data and see if you can justify less swabbing (or why it would not be a non conformance to miss). 


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