? Best Practices // Running a test

Whether you're testing milk from an individual animal or a bulk tank, unlike other microbial tests, Delvotest® T ampoules are robustly designed to test both?. In a previous article, we explored milk collection best practices? that tackle the challenge of getting samples that properly represent the milk being tested. In this article, we explore best practices when running a test to get reliable, actionable results.

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Step 1 // Gather materials

Once you have your properly collected milk sample(s)?in a fit for testing, safe and hygienic environment, gather as many Delvotest® T ampoules and pipettes you'll need for the number of samples you plan to analyse, along with your Delvotest® Go?.

? Not working with a Delvotest® Go? yet? No worries, if you're still doing visual reading with a Delvotest® Mini S?, waterbath or oven as your incubation method, read on, as these steps are also relevant for you.

Step 2 // Acclimatise ampoules

Then let your Delvotest® T ampoules acclimatise to room temperature. Usually, this can take c. 5~10 minutes, and is important because

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Step 3 // Open an ampoule and pick up a pipette

Once your your Delvotest® T ampoules have been acclimatised, take an ampoule, open its foil, and pick up a pipette from the upper bulb—avoiding touching the bit that'll come in contact with your sample, as touching it with your hands could contaminate it, therefore potentially impacting your results.

Step 4 // Insert pipette into your sample

Squeeze the upper bulb before inserting the pipette. Dip the pipette into your sample at a 45° downward angle with the lower bulb facing up, about 1 cm deep—like this:

Step 5 // Fill the pipette

Slowly release your grip on the top bulb so the pipette stem fills with the right amount of milk (100 μl). A small extra amount should go into the lower bulb (the reservoir). If there’s no milk in the reservoir or you see air bubbles in the stem, try again to get it just right.

Step 6 // Add milk to the ampoule

Bring the pipette's tip about 1 cm into the ampoule, taking care not to touch the purple gel. Then, gently release the upper bulb to release the milk inside the ampoule.

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