Peel Plate Microbial Tests for Food Safety and Quality Control
Simplified Microbial Testing for Reliable Detection of Indicator Organisms
Microbial contamination remains a critical concern in food safety, water quality, and healthcare environments. Undetected microorganisms can impact product quality, shelf life, and consumer safety, while also increasing the risk of regulatory non-compliance.
Peel Plate Microbial Tests provide a simplified, reliable culture method for detecting microorganisms using conventional microbiological procedures—while improving efficiency, consistency, and ease of use in laboratory and production environments.
Start Your Microbial Testing Program
Product Information: Peel Plate Brochure
Microbial Testing Reinvented
Advanced Alternatives for Indicator Organism Testing
Peel Plate bacterial tests are simplified culture methods for detecting micro-organisms. Each test contains non-selective or selective medium and follows conventional microbiologic procedures for time and temperature of incubation. An air gap between the plate and cover allows colony picking and determination of microbial morphology.
Charm offers Peel Plate tests for aerobic bacteria (Peel Plate AC), coliform (Peel Plate CC), Enterobacteriaceae (Peel Plate EB), E. coli/coliform (Peel Plate EC), lactic acid bacteria (Peel Plate LAB), Pseudomonas (Peel Plate PS), Staphylococcus Aureus (Peel Plate SA), Yeast and Mold (Peel Plate YM), and Yeast (Peel Plate Y).
These simplified culture methods are helpful in detecting signs of critical pathogens, including Salmonella and Listeria, for use in dairy products, ground meats, other foods, contact surfaces and water.
AOAC-RI has granted Performance Tested Methods℠ certification to Peel Plate AC, EC, SA, and YM tests. Additionally, Peel Plate EB has AOAC-OMA and MicroVal harmonized certification.
Indicator Organism Tests Available
- Aerobic Count (Peel Plate AC)
- Coliform (Peel Plate CC)
- Enterobacteriaceae (Peel Plate EB)
- E. coli/coliform (Peel Plate EC)
- Heterotrophs (Peel Plate HET)
- Staphylococcus aureus (Peel Plate SA)
- Yeast (Peel Plate Y)
- Yeast and Mold (Peel Plate YM)
Key Benefits of Charm Microbial Peel Plate Tests
- Ready-to-use. Self-wicking; no spreading device needed
- Colonies easily transferred or picked for additional confirmation/isolation/classification
- Improved air circulation with spacing between stacked, interlocked plates
- Buffered media formulation for robust performance with acidic foods and neutralizing buffers
- pH adjustments not required for most samples
- 12-month room temperature stable in a re-sealable foil zip bag*
- Date tracking and count analysis available with the Peel Plate IntelliCount System
High Volume tests and certified milk labs require refrigerated storage (0 – 4.5°C).
➡️ Use alongside the novaLUM II-X ATP Monitoring System for complete sanitation verification and microbial confirmation
Microbial Test Solutions
1. Peel Plate AC Microbial Test (Aerobic Count)
Peel Plate AC nutrient rich non-selective media encourages the growth of aerobic, oxygen consuming bacteria. Aerobes appear as red colonies within 48 hours at 32 or 35ºC; size may vary. This test can also be incubated under anaerobic conditions to detect the presence of LAB bacteria or suggest the risk of Listeria.
2. Peel Plate CC Microbial Test (Coliform Count)
Total Coliform Peel Plate CC selective media encourages the growth of coliform bacteria. The presence of coliform is an indicator of unsanitary conditions in raw products. Coliform are killed by effective heat steps in food processing. Coliform appear as red colonies within 24 hours at 32 or 35°C. Coliforms are closely regulated in dairy and some foods the US and Peel Plate Coliform tests are listed in the PMO.
3. Peel Plate EB Microbial Test (Enterobacteriaceae Bacteria)
The Enterobacteriaceae bacteria are a family of gram negative bacteria encompassing coliform, E. coli, Shigella, Salmonella, and Yersinia. These bacteria indicate unsanitary conditions in raw products and are killed by heat steps in food processing. EB testing is used as a post-production verification of process and pathogen risk used, for example, to test dry milk powder and infant formula. EB is regulated globally, similar to coliform/E.coli regulation in the US. Incubation 24 to 48 hours at 37°C produce multiple colored round growth spots that are all recorded as EB. High Volume plates are available.
4. Peel Plate EC Microbial Test (E.coli & Coliform)
Generic E.coli, considered a fecal risk indicator, is a subset of coliform and are differentiated with the Peel Plate EC formulation. Peel Plate EC are AOAC-RI validated for a number of dairy products, meat rinses, water testing, and environmental sampling. Coliform appear as round red colonies and E. coli as round blue colonies within 24 hours at 35°C and the sum of red and blue are total coliform.
5. Peel Plate HET Microbial Test (Heterotrophic Count)
Heterotrophs are aerobic bacteria that are more associated with water and nutrient-depleted matrices. Peel Plate HET nutrient-depleted media encourages the growth of heterotrophic organisms in water. Incubation at 20 to 28°C produces red growth spots within 5 to 7 days. Heterotrophs are used as indicators to assess biofilm build-up, and nutrient leaching in water distribution systems of food plants and water municipalities.
6. Peel Plate SA Microbial Test (Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus can be present in eggs, meat, poultry, milk, and dairy products and are spread through hand contact with environmental surfaces or hand-prepared food items. Peel Plate SA tests are used to test finished products and environmental samples. S. aureus bacteria appear within 24 hours, with an additional 24 hours for presumptive positive confirmation (48 hours total) at 35 to 37°C. Tests with no growth at 24 hours are considered negative for S. aureus.
7. Peel Plate Y Microbial Test (Yeast)
Peel Plate Y uses alternative indicators from the YM test to select for yeast colony growth only. It recommends 32°C incubation that is more favorable to yeast growth compared to mold. The method is particularly for use in foods naturally containing molds, i.e., blue cheese. It uses media containing selective agents and dyes to produce dehydrogenase enzymes, which react with a redox indicator to produce red or pink colored colonies.
8. Peel Plate YM Microbial Test (Yeast & Mold)
Peel Plate selective media with antibiotic prevents the growth of bacteria, and encourages the growth of fungi. Fungi organisms are primarily a food spoilage risk but can also produce toxins. Peel Plate YM are AOAC-RI validated for a variety of dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, juices, RTE foods, and environmental surfaces. Incubation 3 to 5 days at 25ºC produce green/blue growth spots. High Volume plates are available.
Integrated Sanitation and Monitoring System
Peel Plate Microbial Tests complement rapid hygiene screening using the novaLUM II-X ATP Monitoring System, enabling a complete food safety workflow:
- Perform ATP testing for immediate sanitation verification
- Use Peel Plate for microbial confirmation and validation
- Support HACCP documentation and audit compliance
➡️ Explore novaLUM II-X ATP Monitoring System
➡️ Use with PocketSwab Plus ATP Swab for rapid surface testing
➡️ Add AllerGiene ATP Swab for allergen control
➡️ Include WaterGiene ATP Swab for water testing
➡️ Apply FieldSwab ATP Swab for outdoor sanitation monitoring
Applications Across Industries
- Food processing and manufacturing
- Dairy and meat production
- Water systems and utilities
- Pharmaceutical and laboratory environments
- Healthcare and sanitation monitoring
Related Food Safety Solutions
- novaLUM II-X ATP Monitoring System
- ATP Sanitation Verification Swabs
- Morinaga Allergen Testing Kits
- Xebios Water and Microbiological Solutions
Strengthen Your Microbial Testing and Food Safety Program
Enhance your sanitation verification, microbial testing, and quality assurance programs with reliable, easy-to-use solutions.
Trusted Charm Solutions in the Philippines
Peel Plate Microbial Tests are available through Brownstone Asia-Tech Inc., Authorized Distributor of Charm in the Philippines, providing access to globally trusted solutions for food safety, microbial testing, sanitation verification, and compliance.
