✅ Minimise delays during application steps

This article is part of our Application Protocol Help Centre series🔗 designed to help you get the best performance from your Delvotest® system. By following a unified application protocol across multiple laboratories, you can significantly reduce variability, enhance reliability, and achieve more consistent results. In this article, we focus on minimising delays during application steps—one of the core principles for operational success🔗—to ensure uniform conditions and maintain test accuracy.

From sample arrival to sample preparation
Respect local regulatory standards for sample intake and handling, including temperature (e.g., 4~7 °C) and time thresholds (e.g., ≤72 hours in transit). Before adding samples to Delvotest® plates, ensure the milk is at room temperature (c. 20~25 °C). Milk that is too cold or too warm can affect antibiotic diffusion, compromising accuracy. Avoid leaving milk outside for more than 30 minutes to prevent bacterial growth or degradation. Always follow the application requirements for your reference controls.

From first to last sample filling
Once you begin filling the plate-wells, do not exceed 30 minutes between the first and last sample added. Antibiotic diffusion starts as soon as milk is deposited, so a prolonged delay can lead to uneven test results and reduced accuracy. Keeping this interval under 30 minutes ensures consistency across all samples.

From the last sample to the start of incubation
Begin incubation immediately after the last sample is added. If immediate incubation is not possible, the delay must not exceed 30 minutes. Any longer and diffusion differences may arise, affecting the test’s reliability. Minimising this gap ensures uniform conditions for all samples during incubation.

From incubation end to reading results
If you are using a Delvotest® Accelerator Smart system, the reading step is automated. In other methods, or if reading is done manually, read the results immediately after incubation. If a delay is unavoidable, it must not exceed 30 minutes. Colour development continues after incubation, so waiting too long can yield inaccurate visual readings.

From reading results to documenting abnormalities
In rare cases where abnormal performance occurs, you may wish to photograph the plate’s end-state. Do this immediately after reading. If circumstances prevent immediate action, the delay must not exceed 30 minutes. Waiting longer can allow further colour changes, potentially misleading investigations.

Next Steps

In the next article, we will explore another fundamental principle—Adhere, Trust, Consult—to promote compliance and confidence in your testing protocols.

⏭️ Next article: Trust and support🔗