MICBUSTERS strengthens portable qPCR safety through an SDS review with Bureau Veritas
In cooperation with Bureau Veritas, MICBUSTERS has completed a detailed review of the Safety Data Sheets for its portable qPCR products and workflows. The review supports our safety-by-design approach: people using portable qPCR should not be exposed to hazardous substances during normal and intended operation.
Why chemical safety matters in portable qPCR
Portable quantitative polymerase chain reaction, or portable qPCR, makes it possible to perform advanced microbiological measurements close to an industrial asset, process or sampling location. This reduces the time between sampling and obtaining actionable microbiological information.
Moving an analytical method from a conventional laboratory into the field also introduces an important responsibility. The workflow must not only be accurate and practical; it must also be suitable for use by operators working outside a fully equipped molecular laboratory.
For MICBUSTERS, chemical safety is therefore not an administrative step added after product development. It is part of the original product and workflow design.
Our safety-by-design principle
Our starting point is straightforward: users of the MICBUSTERS portable qPCR workflow should not be exposed to hazardous substances during normal, intended use.
In practice, this means eliminating hazardous chemistry wherever this is technically possible. Where a regulated or potentially hazardous component is necessary for analytical performance, the objective is to minimise the quantity, prevent direct contact, use suitable packaging and provide clear instructions for handling, storage, transport and disposal.
Minimise
Hazardous components are avoided or reduced wherever technically feasible.
Contain
Reagents are supplied in formats designed to limit handling and reduce the possibility of direct exposure.
Communicate
Users receive clear information about hazards, precautions, storage, transport and waste management.
Review
Safety documentation is periodically reassessed as products, formulations and regulatory requirements develop.
Review of all Safety Data Sheets with Bureau Veritas
MICBUSTERS engaged Bureau Veritas to review the Safety Data Sheets associated with our qPCR kits, sample preparation products and supporting reagents.
Safety Data Sheets are commonly abbreviated as SDS. They were previously widely referred to as Material Safety Data Sheets, or MSDS. An SDS provides structured information about a chemical product, including its composition, classification, potential hazards and recommended protective measures.
The review considered the clarity, consistency and completeness of the documentation, including relevant elements such as:
- chemical composition and concentration ranges;
- hazard classification and labelling;
- hazard and precautionary statements;
- recommended handling and storage conditions;
- first-aid and accidental-release information;
- transport considerations;
- disposal and environmental information; and
- consistency between the different SDS sections.
What this means for portable qPCR users
Clear and accurate safety information helps field technicians, laboratory staff, asset owners, distributors and logistics partners make informed decisions about how products should be handled.
The reviewed documentation supports practical questions that regularly arise when portable qPCR is deployed in industrial environments:
- Does a reagent require personal protective equipment?
- How should a product be stored before use?
- Are there special transport requirements?
- What action is required after accidental contact or a spill?
- How should used reagents and consumables be disposed of?
By addressing these questions in a clear and consistent way, the SDS package becomes a practical part of the operating workflow rather than merely a regulatory document.
Safe microbiological testing outside the laboratory
Portable qPCR can provide rapid information about microorganisms associated with microbiologically influenced corrosion, process contamination, biofilm formation and other industrial microbiological risks.
However, speed and portability should never come at the expense of safe working practices. Products must be used in accordance with their instructions, the applicable Safety Data Sheets, site-specific risk assessments and local health, safety and environmental procedures.
The review with Bureau Veritas is therefore one part of a broader continuous-improvement process. MICBUSTERS will continue to assess its reagents, packaging, instructions and documentation as its portable qPCR platform develops.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an SDS and an MSDS?
SDS stands for Safety Data Sheet and is the terminology used under the current globally harmonised system for communicating chemical hazards. MSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheet and is an older term that is still commonly used. In practice, both terms refer to documentation providing chemical safety information.
Are all MICBUSTERS portable qPCR reagents non-hazardous?
MICBUSTERS aims to eliminate hazardous substances wherever technically possible. Our central design objective is that users should not be exposed to hazardous components during normal and intended use. Where a regulated component is technically necessary, its quantity, packaging, handling instructions and safety documentation are designed to control the risk of exposure.
Did Bureau Veritas certify the MICBUSTERS qPCR kits?
No. Bureau Veritas reviewed the Safety Data Sheet documentation. This review should not be described as product certification or as certification of the analytical performance of the qPCR assays.
Why are Safety Data Sheets important for field qPCR?
Portable qPCR may be used outside a conventional laboratory. Clear Safety Data Sheets help users understand appropriate handling, storage, protective measures, transport requirements, emergency actions and disposal procedures.
Where can users obtain the applicable MICBUSTERS SDS?
Customers and distribution partners can request the current Safety Data Sheets for the relevant MICBUSTERS products directly from MICBUSTERS. The SDS version supplied should always correspond with the specific product and formulation being used.
Need safety documentation for a MICBUSTERS product?
Contact MICBUSTERS to request the current Safety Data Sheets or to discuss the safe implementation of portable qPCR in your organisation.
Contact MICBUSTERS