EnviroSamp™ Sponge Plus & Sponge Swab – Professional Surface Sampling Solutions by Innomed

At Innomed Life Sciences, we are committed to providing advanced tools for reliable environmental monitoring and hygiene control. The EnviroSamp™ range is designed in accordance with ISO 18593 and ISO 17604 standards to meet the demanding needs of the food industry, healthcare facilities, and environmental laboratories.

Two of our most popular solutions are Sponge Plus and Sponge Swab — both engineered for the efficient enumeration and detection of viable microorganisms from surfaces.

Sponge Plus – Extended Reach, Proven Efficiency

The EnviroSamp™ Sponge Plus is a high-performance sampling device, specifically developed for surface microbiological testing in the food production environment.

It features a medical-grade, antimicrobial-free sponge (polyurethane or cellulose), measuring 3.8 × 7.6 cm, folded and attached to the end of a long, flexible plastic handle. This design allows the user to easily sample hard-to-reach areas while ensuring full contact between the sponge and the surface.

A pre-defined breaking point enables the sponge to be easily separated from the handle after sampling for further processing. Each unit is pre-moistened with a validated volume of diluent — either Buffered Peptone Water (BPW) or Maximum Recovery Diluent (MRD), with or without neutralisers. The neutralising agents are effective against common disinfectant residues, ensuring maximum microorganism recovery.

Performance Validation:
In controlled trials using stainless steel surfaces contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium at extremely low levels (<10 cfu/100 cm²), Sponge Plus achieved 100% positive recovery with both sponge materials. These results confirm its high efficiency, even on minimally contaminated surfaces, and show performance comparable to or better than competing products.

Sponge Swab – Compact Precision for Targeted Areas

The EnviroSamp™ Sponge Swab uses the same proven sponge materials and diluent options as Sponge Plus but is mounted on a short, rigid handle. This configuration is ideal for precise sampling in small, accessible areas or on equipment surfaces where controlled movement is essential.

While the sponge size is similar to that of Sponge Plus, the shorter handle design means it is typically used for targeted spot checks rather than broad surface sweeps. Both products are sterile, individually packaged, and ready-to-use.

Key Similarities

• Sponge Material: Polyurethane or cellulose, antimicrobial-free, medical grade.

• Diluent Options: BPW or MRD, with/without neutraliser.

• Sterility: Terminally sterilised by irradiation.

• Compliance: Meets ISO 18593 and ISO 17604 standards.

• Applications: Food industry hygiene monitoring, healthcare environments, pharmaceutical cleanrooms, environmental safety assessments.

Key Differences

FeatureSponge PlusSponge Swab

HandleLong, flexible – allows access to large or hard-to-reach surfacesShort, rigid – ideal for small, accessible surfaces

Breaking PointYes – sponge can be detached easily after samplingTypically no breaking point

Primary UseBroad-area sampling and remote surface collectionPrecision sampling in confined areas

CoverageEnables faster coverage of wide surfacesFocused, small-area testing

Trusted Results, Every Time

Whether you need extended reach and broad coverage with Sponge Plus, or compact precision with Sponge Swab, the EnviroSamp™ range provides reliable, reproducible, and standards-compliant sampling for the most demanding hygiene monitoring programs.

EnviroSamp™ – Precision Sampling, Reliable Results.