In industries such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, purity and accuracy are non-negotiable. One of the most critical tools for microbial contamination control in cleanrooms is the viable air sampler — a device designed to detect viable microorganisms capable of growing, such as bacteria, yeast, and mold.
Unlike non-viable particle counters, viable air samplers specifically capture living microorganisms, making them indispensable for cleanroom environmental monitoring.
Risks from Viable Microorganisms
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Just one viable microorganism can compromise product sterility, impact patient safety, and even trigger large-scale product recalls.
Biotechnology
Microbial contamination can disrupt cell culture processes, reduce yield, or completely invalidate an entire production batch.
Medical Device Production
With strict sterility requirements, continuous microbial monitoring is essential to ensure products remain safe for end users.
The Role of Viable Air Samplers in Cleanrooms
1. Monitoring Air Quality
Routine viable sampling allows early detection of abnormal microbial levels, enabling timely corrective actions.
2. Verifying Aseptic Manufacturing
In aseptic production environments, viable air samplers help confirm that sterile conditions are consistently maintained, supporting compliance with ISO 14698 and GMP guidelines.
3. Microbial Trend Analysis
Regular sampling provides valuable data for trend analysis, allowing facilities to identify patterns, prevent contamination, and mitigate risks before they escalate.
Key Benefits of Using Viable Air Samplers
- Enhanced product safety: Rapid detection of viable microorganisms protects product integrity and sterility.
- Regulatory compliance: Reliable microbial data supports audits and meets stringent GMP, ISO, and regulatory requirements.
- Cost savings: Preventing contamination minimizes downtime, batch rejection, and corrective actions.
How to Choose the Right Viable Air Sampler
When selecting a sampler, consider:
- High sensitivity to detect small viable microorganisms
- User-friendly interface for simplified sampling procedures
- Ability to integrate with facility-wide environmental monitoring systems (e.g., RTMS)
Introducing ActiveCount – Premium Viable Air Samplers from Lighthouse
According to Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions, the ActiveCount series is engineered specifically for demanding cleanroom and aseptic environments.
Highlighted Features
- Multiple sampling modes: continuous, cyclic, and gas sampling
- Long battery life (8–10 hours) for uninterrupted sampling
- Password protection and secure configuration management
- USB data storage for fast reporting and log retrieval
- Fully compliant with ISO 14698-1
- Autoclavable sampling heads on selected models (e.g., ActiveCount 100H, 25H) for sterile operations
Conclusion
Viable air samplers are indispensable tools for microbial control in cleanrooms. By detecting viable microorganisms, enabling trend analysis, and supporting aseptic workflows, they help organizations:
- Improve product quality
- Maintain GMP/ISO compliance
- Reduce long-term operational risks and costs
At GERA Hi-Tech Vietnam, we proudly partner with Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions to provide the ActiveCount viable air sampler series, along with professional calibration and technical support.
👉 Contact us today to explore a reliable microbial monitoring solution for your cleanroom.
