Zone 1 and 2 should have indicator testing. Is the speed of the test a reason you are thinking of getting rid of indicator testing in Zone 2? You should not be holding product until their results are in. The purpose of those results is to trend them over time to know your cleaning is effective, recleaning what was not clean. With pathogen testing only, just because a pathogen is not present on your equipment at the time of testing does not mean others can't be present, or that it is not present elsewhere. Testing for Salmonella, for example, and getting a negative result doesn't mean Listeria or E. coli can't also be present. Getting a negative for a pathogen on a Zone 1 or 2 does not mean that your zones are clean. The reason for using indicators is to show whether cleaning removed all microorganisms, which includes pathogens. Also, generally, indicator testing is cheaper and you can (and should) swab more areas than you would with pathogen testing.
Testing in Zone 3 and 4 depends on your risks and the facility. Usually I don't recommend indicator testing, only pathogen, because floors etc. can be high in indicators, and you are mainly trying to determine if pathogens such as Listeria and Salmonella are entering your facility through people and equipment. In many cases we don't test Zone 4 if there is a good way to separate that area out (captive shoe program, foot bath, etc).
I hope this is helpful, but I'm in the USA so rules might be different in your country. Good luck!
Hi ebb,
A few comments further to yr useful suggestions.
(1) EMPG programs may significantly vary depending on context. For example, dry /wet environments may focus on different pathogens. See link Post 2. Also -
http://www.ifsqn.com...am/#entry119334
(2) Indicators typically have one quantitative advantage over pathogens, they tend to be present in larger numbers so are easier to evaluate. But, safety-wise, indicators have restricted significance,
(3) Cleaning, inter alia, will reduce existing levels of microorganisms enabling some indicator limits to be "formulated" , eg see -
.http://www.ifsqn.com...ces/#entry60958
(4) Some (many?) texts suggest not testing for pathogens in Zone 1, particularly due strategic considerations. FDA may not agree.