Microbiology Laboratory Testing in Irvine & San Diego
Send us your supplement, cosmetic, food or personal care product and get microbial results you can act on, with a signed Certificate of Analysis.
A microbiology laboratory tests samples for bacteria, yeast, mold and pathogens. At Qalitex that means checking consumer products against limits such as USP <61> and <62>, so you know a batch is safe to sell and will stay stable on the shelf.
What a microbiology laboratory tests for
Contamination is rarely visible. A powder can look fine and still carry too many yeast and mold cells, and a lotion can look fine and still let bacteria grow once the jar is opened. Lab testing turns those risks into numbers you can compare against a specification.
Microbial limit testing
Total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) and total yeast & mold count (TYMC) under USP <61>.
Specified organisms
E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa under USP <62>.
Pathogen screening
Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7, Clostridium and other organisms relevant to your product type.
Preservative efficacy (challenge) testing
Shows whether a preservative system holds up over time. Follows USP <51> and ISO 11930.
Raw material testing
Microbial load and pathogen screens on botanical powders, extracts and other ingredients before production.
Environmental monitoring
Surface, air and water sampling to check manufacturing hygiene against FDA cGMP and ISO cleanroom expectations.
When you need a microbiology laboratory
- ✓Before you release a batch of dietary supplements, to confirm microbial limits are met (see botanical supplement testing).
- ✓When you launch or reformulate a cosmetic with water in it, to check the preservative system works (see cosmetic testing).
- ✓When you buy botanical powders or extracts and want to screen them before they enter production.
- ✓When a retailer, distributor or marketplace asks for a Certificate of Analysis that includes microbiology.
- ✓When you want to confirm the hygiene of a production area through environmental monitoring.
How testing works with Qalitex
- 1
Tell us the product and what it must meet
Send the product type (supplement, cosmetic, food or personal care), the batch count, and any specification or customer requirement you need to hit. We reply with the panel, price and turnaround.
- 2
Ship the samples to Irvine or San Diego
You receive an order form and sample submission guidelines. We confirm receipt and keep you updated while testing runs.
- 3
We run the methods and review the data
Methods follow USP <61>, <62> and <51>, AOAC guidance and FDA requirements, under our ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation.
- 4
You get a signed Certificate of Analysis
The CoA lists the batch, methods, specifications and results. Most standard tests are back in 48–72 hours from sample receipt; rush options are available.
Microbiology laboratory questions
What does a microbiology laboratory do?
A microbiology laboratory detects and counts microorganisms — bacteria, yeast, mold and specific pathogens — in a sample. For consumer products that means checking that a supplement, cosmetic or food is safe, stays within its microbial limits, and holds up through its shelf life.
Is Qalitex the same as "A Photographic Atlas for the Microbiology Laboratory"?
No. That title is a lab-course textbook used for teaching. Qalitex is a commercial testing laboratory: you send us product samples and we return a signed Certificate of Analysis. We do not publish or sell that book, so for a copy or a particular edition, check with the book’s publisher or a bookseller.
Where can I find a PDF of a microbiology laboratory atlas or manual?
Qalitex does not distribute textbooks, so we cannot supply a PDF or a specific edition (4th, 5th or otherwise). Your library, the publisher, or an authorized retailer is the right place to look. If what you need is real test results on a product, that is what we do.
What microbiology tests can I order from Qalitex?
Microbial limit tests (TAMC and TYMC), specified organisms such as E. coli and Salmonella, pathogen screening, yeast and mold enumeration, preservative efficacy (challenge) testing, raw material testing and environmental monitoring.
Which products do you test?
Dietary supplements, cosmetics, foods and personal care products. If your product sits outside those groups, contact us and we will tell you whether we can test it.
How long does microbiology testing take?
Most standard tests have a 48–72 hour turnaround after we receive your samples. Methods that need more time, such as challenge testing, take longer; we confirm timing in your quote.
Is the laboratory accredited?
Yes. Qalitex Laboratories is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited and operates from Irvine and San Diego, California.
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