Results

Documented Test Results

The results below are documented test results from specific applications, treatment times and test conditions. Each entry states the target microorganism, application, treatment time, initial level, reduction achieved, test setting and sampling method.

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Scope

How to read these results

Results shown are application-specific documented test results. Performance depends on product, surface, process conditions, initial contamination and treatment configuration.

These are results from the documented test configurations. A proof of concept is required to confirm performance for other materials, geometries and operating conditions.

Historical test documentation. Results should be reconfirmed for current equipment configurations and customer-specific applications.

Poultry

Broiler carcass results

Fresh broiler carcasses

Campylobacter

More than 90% reduction within 1.4 seconds

Treatment time
1.2–1.4 seconds
Test setting
Industrial poultry line at a Danish slaughterhouse, chain speed 8,500–10,000 birds/hour
log₁₀ CFU/g
Result2.801.43
Before
After
Test details
Target microorganism
Campylobacter
Application
Fresh broiler carcasses
Treatment time
1.2–1.4 seconds
Initial level
Mean 2.80 log₁₀ CFU/g for samples above 2.5 log₁₀ CFU/g
Reduction achieved
1.0 log₁₀ overall; up to 1.37 log₁₀ for higher initial concentrations
Relative reduction
90% overall; up to 96%
Test setting
Industrial poultry line at a Danish slaughterhouse, chain speed 8,500–10,000 birds/hour
Sampling method
Paired sampling of 5 g skin from the left and right side of the carcass breast, corresponding to control and treated. Accredited Campylobacter analysis performed by Eurofins (Holstebro, Denmark).
Number of samples
N=16 for the subset with initial levels above 2.5 log₁₀ CFU/g
Limitations and observations
Reduction levels are highly correlated with the initial Campylobacter concentration. No organoleptic changes were observed in the documented test.
Fresh broiler carcasses

Total Viable Count (TVC)

1.62 log₁₀ reduction — approximately 98% — within 1.4 seconds

Treatment time
1.4 seconds
Test setting
Industrial poultry line at a Danish slaughterhouse, chain speed 8,500–10,000 birds/hour
log₁₀ CFU/12 cm²
Result4.162.54
Before
After
Test details
Target microorganism
Total Viable Count (TVC)
Application
Fresh broiler carcasses
Treatment time
1.4 seconds
Initial level
4.16 log₁₀ CFU/12 cm² (equal to 14,454 CFU/12 cm²)
Reduction achieved
1.62 log₁₀ (4.16 → 2.54 log₁₀ CFU/12 cm²)
Relative reduction
Approximately 98%
Test setting
Industrial poultry line at a Danish slaughterhouse, chain speed 8,500–10,000 birds/hour
Sampling method
Paired sampling by swabbing the surface of the chest skin before and after treatment.
Number of samples
N=24
Broiler carcasses, artificially contaminated

Salmonella typhimurium

Up to 1.0 log₁₀ reduction — up to approximately 90%

Treatment time
Approximately 1.2–1.5 seconds
Test setting
Pilot-scale test using full-size IA Poultry equipment, chain speed 8,000 birds/hour
log₁₀ CFU/g
1.1 initial1.100.80
Before
After
1.5 initial1.500.70
Before
After
1.9 initial1.900.90
Before
After
Test details
Target microorganism
Salmonella typhimurium
Application
Broiler carcasses, artificially contaminated
Treatment time
Approximately 1.2–1.5 seconds
Initial level
Three inoculation levels: 1.1, 1.5 and 1.9 log₁₀
Reduction achieved
0.3, 0.8 and 1.0 log₁₀ respectively
Relative reduction
50–90%
Test setting
Pilot-scale test using full-size IA Poultry equipment, chain speed 8,000 birds/hour
Sampling method
Carcasses two days from slaughter, artificially contaminated with three Salmonella typhimurium inoculations. Paired sampling of 5 g breast skin (control and treated).
Limitations and observations
Artificially contaminated carcasses in a pilot-scale setting, not an industrial-line result.
Broiler carcasses, artificially contaminated

Listeria innocua

1.04 log₁₀ reduction — approximately 91% — within 1.2 seconds

Treatment time
1.2 seconds
Test setting
Offline pilot-scale test using full-size IA Poultry equipment at the SonoSteam test centre (Brøndby, Denmark), chain speed 10,000 birds/hour
log₁₀ CFU/g
Result3.422.38
Before
After
Test details
Target microorganism
Listeria innocua
Application
Broiler carcasses, artificially contaminated
Treatment time
1.2 seconds
Initial level
Mean 3.42 log₁₀ CFU/g (equal to 2,630 CFU per gram)
Reduction achieved
1.04 log₁₀
Relative reduction
Approximately 91%
Test setting
Offline pilot-scale test using full-size IA Poultry equipment at the SonoSteam test centre (Brøndby, Denmark), chain speed 10,000 birds/hour
Sampling method
Five carcasses two days from slaughter, contaminated 24 hours before treatment. Paired sampling of 5 g breast skin (control and treated).
Number of samples
N=5
Limitations and observations
Artificially contaminated carcasses in a pilot-scale setting.
Broiler carcasses, artificially contaminated

Yersinia enterocolitica

0.98 log₁₀ reduction — approximately 90% — within 1.2 seconds

Treatment time
1.2 seconds
Test setting
Pilot-scale test using full-size IA Poultry equipment, chain speed 10,000 birds/hour
log₁₀ CFU/g
Result4.473.49
Before
After
Test details
Target microorganism
Yersinia enterocolitica
Application
Broiler carcasses, artificially contaminated
Treatment time
1.2 seconds
Initial level
Mean 4.47 log₁₀ CFU/g (equal to 29,512 CFU per gram)
Reduction achieved
0.98 log₁₀ (to 3.49 log₁₀ CFU/g)
Relative reduction
Approximately 90%
Test setting
Pilot-scale test using full-size IA Poultry equipment, chain speed 10,000 birds/hour
Sampling method
Five carcasses two days from slaughter, contaminated 24 hours before treatment. Paired sampling of 5 g breast skin (control and treated).
Number of samples
N=5
Limitations and observations
Artificially contaminated carcasses in a pilot-scale setting.
Broiler carcasses, naturally contaminated

E. coli / coliform

1.70 log₁₀ reduction — approximately 97–98% — within 1.2 seconds

Treatment time
1.2 seconds
Test setting
Pilot-scale test, chain speed 10,000 birds/hour
log₁₀ CFU/12 cm²
Result2.170.47
Before
After
Test details
Target microorganism
E. coli / coliform
Application
Broiler carcasses, naturally contaminated
Treatment time
1.2 seconds
Initial level
2.17 log₁₀ CFU/12 cm² (equal to 148 CFU per 12 cm²)
Reduction achieved
1.70 log₁₀ (to 0.47 log₁₀ CFU/12 cm²)
Relative reduction
Approximately 97–98%
Test setting
Pilot-scale test, chain speed 10,000 birds/hour
Sampling method
Paired sampling by swabbing the surface of the chest skin.
Number of samples
N=5
Fresh broiler carcasses, naturally contaminated

Enterobacteriaceae

1.57 log₁₀ reduction — approximately 97% — within 1.3 seconds

Treatment time
1.3 seconds
Test setting
Industrial poultry line at a Danish slaughterhouse, chain speed 8,400–9,600 birds/hour
log₁₀ CFU/12 cm²
Result3.912.34
Before
After
Test details
Target microorganism
Enterobacteriaceae
Application
Fresh broiler carcasses, naturally contaminated
Treatment time
1.3 seconds
Initial level
3.91 log₁₀ CFU/12 cm² (equal to 8,128 CFU/12 cm²)
Reduction achieved
1.57 log₁₀ (to 2.34 log₁₀ CFU/12 cm²)
Relative reduction
Approximately 97%
Test setting
Industrial poultry line at a Danish slaughterhouse, chain speed 8,400–9,600 birds/hour
Sampling method
Paired sampling by swabbing the surface of the chest skin.
Number of samples
N=10
Correlation

Campylobacter reduction and initial concentration

Documented test results show that reduction levels are highly correlated with the initial Campylobacter concentration on the carcass.

Campylobacter reduction related to initial concentration, log₁₀ CFU/g
Initial level (log₁₀ CFU/g)Reduction (log₁₀)
1.880.48
1.920.33
1.980.46
2.180.87
2.180.75
2.180.72
2.240.66
2.240.65
2.541.53
2.681.48
2.921.18
3.222.22
Equipment and surfaces

Equipment, packaging and mattress cover results

Slaughter knives

Enterobacteriaceae and Total Viable Count (TVC)

No detectable bacteria after a one-second treatment in the documented test

Treatment time
1.0 second
Test setting
Knives received from a Danish slaughterhouse, naturally contaminated with meat residues from the process line
log₁₀ CFU/4 cm²
Enterobacteriaceae4.88not detected
Before
After
TVC6.40not detected
Before
After
Test details
Target microorganism
Enterobacteriaceae and Total Viable Count (TVC)
Application
Slaughter knives
Treatment time
1.0 second
Initial level
Enterobacteriaceae 4.88 log₁₀ CFU/4 cm²; TVC 6.40 log₁₀ CFU/4 cm² (equal to 2,511,886 bacteria per 4 cm² handle)
Reduction achieved
No detectable Enterobacteriaceae or TVC after treatment
Relative reduction
Below the detection limit
Test setting
Knives received from a Danish slaughterhouse, naturally contaminated with meat residues from the process line
Sampling method
Swab sampling before and after treatment; each knife treated individually.
Number of samples
N=3
Detection limit
Below 10 CFU/swab
Limitations and observations
The knives quickly returned toward normal temperature and protein residues did not become fixed to the tested knives.
Commercial food boxes

Total Viable Count (TVC)

No detectable TVC after a one-second treatment in the documented test

Treatment time
1.0 second
Test setting
Food box received from a Danish slaughterhouse, naturally contaminated at the process line
log₁₀ CFU/20 cm²
Result4.71not detected
Before
After
Test details
Target microorganism
Total Viable Count (TVC)
Application
Commercial food boxes
Treatment time
1.0 second
Initial level
4.71 log₁₀ CFU/20 cm² (equal to 51,286 bacteria per 20 cm² box area)
Reduction achieved
No detectable TVC after treatment
Relative reduction
Below the detection limit
Test setting
Food box received from a Danish slaughterhouse, naturally contaminated at the process line
Sampling method
Swab sampling before and after treatment; each piece treated individually.
Number of samples
N=3
Detection limit
Below 10 CFU/swab
Limitations and observations
No visible changes were observed on the tested food box.
Conveyor belt — Scanbelt (S. 50-401, PE/Blue)

Total Viable Count (TVC)

No detectable TVC after a two-second treatment in the documented test

Treatment time
2.0 seconds
Test setting
Belt segments artificially contaminated with different types of bacteria
log₁₀ CFU/45 cm²
Result6.30not detected
Before
After
Test details
Target microorganism
Total Viable Count (TVC)
Application
Conveyor belt — Scanbelt (S. 50-401, PE/Blue)
Treatment time
2.0 seconds
Initial level
6.30 log₁₀ CFU/45 cm² (equal to 1,995,262 bacteria per 45 cm² of belt)
Reduction achieved
No detectable TVC after treatment
Relative reduction
Below the detection limit
Test setting
Belt segments artificially contaminated with different types of bacteria
Sampling method
Samples taken by pulsifying the whole conveyor piece.
Number of samples
N=3
Detection limit
Below 10 CFU/swab
Limitations and observations
No physical changes were observed on the tested belt material.
Hospital mattress covers

Enterobacteriaceae and Total Viable Count (TVC)

No detectable bacteria after a two-second treatment in the documented test

Treatment time
2.0 seconds
Test setting
Mattress covers artificially contaminated with different types of bacteria, treated while fitted to the mattress
log₁₀ CFU/24 cm²
Enterobacteriaceae2.94not detected
Before
After
TVC4.27not detected
Before
After
Test details
Target microorganism
Enterobacteriaceae and Total Viable Count (TVC)
Application
Hospital mattress covers
Treatment time
2.0 seconds
Initial level
Enterobacteriaceae 2.94 log₁₀ CFU/24 cm²; TVC 4.27 log₁₀ CFU/24 cm² (equal to 18,620 bacteria per 24 cm²)
Reduction achieved
No detectable Enterobacteriaceae or TVC after treatment
Relative reduction
Below the detection limit
Test setting
Mattress covers artificially contaminated with different types of bacteria, treated while fitted to the mattress
Sampling method
Swab sampling before and after treatment; each piece treated individually.
Number of samples
N=3
Detection limit
Below 10 CFU/swab
Limitations and observations
No visible, physical or structural changes were observed and no condensed water penetration through the tested mattress cover was found. The cover quickly returned toward normal temperature.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does “no detectable bacteria” mean?

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It means that after treatment no bacteria were detected at a detection limit below 10 CFU/swab in the documented test. It is a result for that test configuration, not a general sterility claim.

Why is Total Viable Count (TVC) used?

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Total Viable Count (TVC) measures the general level of viable bacteria on a surface and is used consistently across the documented tests as an indicator of overall surface hygiene.

Do the results apply to my product?

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Results are application-specific. Performance depends on product, surface, process conditions, initial contamination and treatment configuration, so a proof of concept is required for other applications.

Validate your application

Discuss a proof of concept for your product and process.

Documented results are application-specific. We confirm performance for your configuration through testing.

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