Sponges have been used for over 40 years to sample a diverse range of surfaces in the food production environment from beef, pork and poultry carcasses to production floors, ceilings, drains, and equipment.

New polyurethane (PUR) sponges offer several distinct advantages over traditional cellulose sponges as well as wound, fiber-tipped swabs including resistance to tearing, flaking or fraying during sample collection and improved release of organisms for more accurate test results.  

Additionally, the synthetic manufacturing process of the polyurethane yields a more consistent biocide-free material without any components that may interfere with downstream test methods.