Certified Reference

Microorganisms

The Simple Way to Ensure Accurate Results, Every Time

Vitroids

™

and LENTICULE

®

Discs

•

Defined CFU & low standard deviation (ISO/IEC 17025)

•

Economic, convenient and easy to use

•

Long shelf life

Operated by Public Health England

Operated by Public Health England

©2015 Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. All rights reserved. SAFC and SIGMA-ALDRICH are trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC, registered in the US and other countries. Vitroids is a trademark of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC.
ATCC is a registered trademark of American Type Culture Collection. ATCC Licensed Derivative® Emblem, the ATCC Licensed Derivative® word mark, and the ATCC catalog marks are trademarks of ATCC.
Sigma-Aldrich is licensed to use these trademarks and to sell products derived from ATCC® cultures. LENTICULE® discs are manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich under license from Public Health England. LENTICULE®
discs are manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich under licence from Public Health England. Purchaser must determine the suitability of the product(s) for their particular use. Additional terms and conditions may apply.
Please see product information on the Sigma-Aldrich website at www.sigmaaldrich.com and/or on the reverse side of the invoice or packing slip.

RTO

50702

1085

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Technical Service: sigma-aldrich.com/techservice

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®

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Vitroids™ Certified Reference Microorganisms

Cat. No.

Certified Reference Material

Origin

Strain No.

Approx. Mean CFU per Disc Acceditation

RQC22003

Acinetobacter baumanni

ATCC®

19606

80

P

RQC22005

Acinetobacter baumanni

ATCC®

19606

200

P

RQC22007

Acinetobacter baumanni

ATCC®

19606

1000

P

RQC15003

Aspergillus brasiliensis

ATCC®

16404™

80

P

RQC16003

Bacillus subtilis

ATCC®

6633™

80

P

RQC02258

Bacillus subtilis

ATCC®

6633™

10'000

P

RQC14003

Candida albicans

ATCC®

10231™

80

P

RQC14004

Candida albicans

ATCC®

10231™

100

P

RQC14007

Candida albicans

ATCC®

10231™

1'000

P

RQC14008

Candida albicans

ATCC®

10231™

10'000

P

RQC02105

Citrobacter freundii

ATCC®

8090™

200

P

RQC02108

Citrobacter freundii

ATCC®

8090™

10'000

P

RQC19003

Clostridium sporogenes

ATCC®

19404™

80

P

RQC01652

Enterobacter aerogenes

ATCC®

13048™

50

P

RQC01654

Enterobacter aerogenes

ATCC®

13048™

100

P

RQC01655

Enterobacter aerogenes

ATCC®

13048™

200

P

RQC01657

Enterobacter aerogenes

ATCC®

13048™

1'000

P

RQC01658

Enterobacter aerogenes

ATCC®

13048™

10'000

P

RQC21102

Enterobacter cloacae

ATCC®

35030™

50

P

RQC21105

Enterobacter cloacae

ATCC®

35030™

200

P

RQC01772

Enterococcus faecalis

ATCC®

19433™

50

P

RQC01774

Enterococcus faecalis

ATCC®

19433™

100

P

RQC01775

Enterococcus faecalis

ATCC®

19433™

200

P

RQC01776

Enterococcus faecalis

ATCC®

19433™

500

P

RQC01777

Enterococcus faecalis

ATCC®

19433™

1'000

P

RQC20003

Enterococcus faecium

ATCC®

19434™

80

P

RQC20005

Enterococcus faecium

ATCC®

19434™

200

P

RQC20007

Enterococcus faecium

ATCC®

19434™

1000

P

RQC01702

Escherichia coli

ATCC®

11775™

50

P

RQC01705

Escherichia coli

ATCC®

11775™

200

P

RQC01707

Escherichia coli

ATCC®

11775™

1'000

P

RQC01708

Escherichia coli

ATCC®

11775™

10'000

P

RQC02704

Escherichia coli

ATCC®

25922™

100

P

RQC02708

Escherichia coli

ATCC®

25922™

10'000

P

RQC11003

Escherichia coli

ATCC®

8739™

80

P

RQC02504

Heterotrophic Organisms

—

—

100

P

RQC02601

Klebsiella pneumoniae

ATCC®

13883™

30

P

RQC02607

Klebsiella pneumoniae

ATCC®

13883™

1000

P

RQC03105

Klebsiella pneumoniae

ATCC®

33495™

200

P

RQC03107

Klebsiella pneumoniae

ATCC®

33495™

1000

P

RQC01901

Listeria monocytogenes

ATCC®

19115™

30

P

RQC03207

Proteus hauseri

ATCC®

13315™

1000

P

RQC03407

Proteus mirabilis

ATCC®

25933™

1000

P

RQC01855

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ATCC®

10145™

200

P

RQC03302

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ATCC®

27853™

50

P

RQC03304

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ATCC®

27853™

100

P

RQC03307

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ATCC®

27853™

1'000

P

RQC02201

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ATCC®

9027™

30

P

RQC12002

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ATCC®

9027™

50

P

RQC12003

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ATCC®

9027™

80

P

RQC02204

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ATCC®

9027™

100

P

RQC12005

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ATCC®

9027™

200

P

RQC12007

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ATCC®

9027™

1'000

P

RQC03006

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Abaetetuba

ATCC®

35640™

500

P

RQC03007

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Abaetetuba

ATCC®

35640™

1'000

P

RQC17002

Salmonella enterica subsp. Enterica serovar Typhimurium

ATCC®

14028™

50

P

RQC17003

Salmonella enterica subsp. Enterica serovar Typhimurium

ATCC®

14028™

80

P

RQC13002

Staphylococcus aureus susp. Aureus

ATCC®

6538™

50

P

RQC13003

Staphylococcus aureus susp. Aureus

ATCC®

6538™

80

P

RQC13004

Staphylococcus aureus susp. Aureus

ATCC®

6538™

100

P

RQC13005

Staphylococcus aureus susp. Aureus

ATCC®

6538™

200

P

RQC13007

Staphylococcus aureus susp. Aureus

ATCC®

6538™

1'000

P

RQC0001

Vitroids™ Blank

—

—

0

P

ATCC Licensed Derivative® Emblem, the ATCC Licensed Derivative® word mark, and the ATCC catalog marks are trademarks of ATCC.
Sigma-Aldrich is licensed to use these trademarks and to sell products derived from ATCC® cultures.

50702_Microorganism CRM Flyer_v6_Trifold.indd 1

14/09/15 5:25 pm

The discs contain pure cultures of bacteria, yeasts or moulds in a
solid water-soluble matrix. Comprehensive certificates of analysis
specify the mean number of colony forming units (CFU) per disc,
details about the method used to determine the product data and
the number of subcultures from the original strains, provided under
licence by NCTC® and ATCC®.
Single-use controls manufactured directly from cultures provided
by recognised Biological Resource Centres (BRCs) such as NCTC®
and ATCC® mean that laboratories can be confident about the
authenticity of their strains and the suitability of their quality control
materials, factors that are of increasing importance as laboratories
become more automated and new technologies emerge and are
rapidly adopted in routine microbiology settings.

What are Vitroids

™

and LENTICULE

®

discs?

Vitroids™ and LENTICULE® discs contain viable microorganisms in a
certified quantity (generally accredited according ISO/IEC 17025),
produced under reproducible conditions compliant with ISO Guide
34:2009 using authenticated strains from NCTC®, NCPF® and ATCC®.
Consisting of pure cultures of bacteria or fungi in a solid water
soluble matrix, they are stable for at least one year and are in a viable
state with a shelf life of 1-3 years. The within batch variation for every
product is very low (in some cases less than 4% standard deviation).
Each batch is provided with a comprehensive certificate of analysis
that specifies the mean number of colony forming units (CFU), an
expanded uncertainty about the mean, details about the method
used to determine the product data and the number of passages
(subcultures) from the original strain.

Applications

•

QC to assure the quality of test results (water, food, beverage,
environmental etc)

•

Performance testing of media acc. ISO 11133

•

Validation of new methods

•

Materials for proficiency testing or ring trials

•

Method development

•

Staff training

•

Starter cultures

Stability

Certified Reference Microorganisms in this unique format are very
stable and in most cases will remain so for many years at -20 °C.
The numbers of CFUs do not change, the organisms need no
recovery time and have no lag phase. Even a short period at
ambient temperature, such as during shipment, is not an issue
for product stability.

The Simple Way to Ensure Accurate Results,

Every Time

Certified Reference Microorganisms

Why use CRMs in Microbiology?

In food, water and environmental microbiology, laboratory results
are an important part of a wider process that helps to confirm that
samples are of an acceptable microbiological quality, are safe and
comply with relevant legislation or guidelines. Quality control is an
essential element of a laboratory’s quality assurance system and
characterised authenticated reference materials are necessary for
effective quality control.
The same is true of
microbiological testing; the
one factor that is repeatedly
overlooked is careful sourcing of
biological resources such as the
quality control strains. Incorrect
quality control materials may
indicate that test results are
acceptable when, in fact, there is a
problem with the samples being
tested. Alternatively, control results
may indicate that a test is not
performing correctly, instigating
unnecessary investigations and
repeat testing.
Ready-to-use microbiological controls minimise the need for
maintaining control strains in the test laboratory and guarantee that
an authenticated control culture is used for every quality control
test. Such control materials must be fit-for-purpose, bearing in
mind that for food, water and environmental samples the ability to
accurately enumerate bacteria, yeasts and moulds and reliably detect
relatively low numbers of pathogenic organisms is essential. It is also
important that controls can be applied to the wide range of different
food and water matrices that are often tested in a single laboratory.

The application of a unique
preservation technology
involving controlled-drying
of authenticated cultures
of internationally accepted
microbiology control strains
has resulted in the production
of single-use discs containing
microorganisms, designed for use
in food, water and environmental
testing laboratories. These
quality control materials, LENTICULE® discs (developed by Public
Health England, PHE) and Vitroids (developed by RTC), are now
available from Sigma Aldrich, and are manufactured under
conditions compliant with ISO Guide 34:2009 (General
requirements for the competence of reference material producers).

Save Time and Costs

Using Vitroids™ and LENTICULE® discs is time saving because it
removes the need for preparing stock cultures. The organisms need
no recovery time and no pre-enrichment step. In addition the product
concentrations are designed in a range where no or only minimal
dilutions are needed. The discs readily dissolve in liquid media and on
agar plates resulting in easy handling and a very economical solution.

What is New Compared to Existing Reference

Strain Products?

Utilization of new technology has allowed us to make major
improvements in the field of Microbiological Reference Materials.
The main areas of development are stability, temperature resistance,
adjusting the narrow defined CFU range, rehydration time and
better within batch reproducibility. In addition, each disc is certified
according to ISO Guide 34 and ISO/IEC 17025.

Preparation
Most solid and liquid medium or
rehydration buffer can be used. Discs can
be rehydrated in as little as 100 µL buffer,
or in larger volumes, e.g. 100 mL medium.
It is also possible to add the disc to a
cooled molten medium used for pour
plate techniques. The rehydration process
takes approximately 10 minutes. On solid
media, the disc forms a droplet that can
be spread with a sterile loop. In liquid
media, the disc dissolves very quickly.

Packaging
The discs are packed individually in
vials. The vials have a special screw-cap
with seal and contain a desiccant at
the bottom or in the cap. The vials are
packed in a mylar bag with a zip.

Desiccant

Desiccant

CRM Disc

Filter Plug

Screw

Cap

Version 1

(only used for Vitroids™)

Version 2

(used for Vitroids™ & LENTICULE® discs)

Strains

LENTICULE® discs are prepared from a traceable culture obtained
freeze-dried from the National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC®) or
National Collection of Pathogenic Fungi (NCPF®) and are manufactured
by Sigma-Aldrich® under license and control from Public Health England.

A New Partnership

Public Health England's NCTC® is a national BRC that preserves,
maintains and regularly updates a specific collection of bacterial
strains, ensuring there are no changes to physical characteristics,
such as morphology and nutritional requirements, the genome and
the proteome. It is one of several BRCs that provide authenticated
biological reference and control strains. In addition, the PHE also
developed the LENTICULE disc that enables a laboratory to have an
on demand source of a control for quantitative microbiology.
With increased worldwide demand for the accreditation of testing
labs, as well as the development of fast, automated methods in
microbiology, the use of Microbial Certified Reference Materials has
increased substantially. With this in mind, it is an appropriate time to
entrust the manufacture and distribution of these products to an ISO
accredited manufacturing company such as Sigma-Aldrich, enabling
the PHE organization to focus on research and development for new
products to add to this portfolio. This R&D is further enhanced by
an exciting project by PHE, in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust
Sanger Institute (WTSI), to provide whole genome sequences using
long-read technology for 3000 bacteria of clinical importance.
An integral part of this new partnership is Sigma-Aldrich’s creation
of a new, dedicated manufacturing facility in Buchs, Switzerland
to provide the growth and development of Certified Reference
Microorganisms, both for now and for the future. It will enable more
scientists worldwide to easily access the NCTC®/NCPF® CRMs through
the global supply chain of Sigma-Aldrich.

The Benefit of Combined Experience

In recent years Sigma-Aldrich, in partnership with Zurich University
of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), has gained a great deal of experience
developing an excellent range of Certified Reference Microorganisms
(CRM) called Vitroids™. The process was standardized and CRM
quality improved to a level superior to today’s standard. Since 2008,
knowledge has been acquired to extend production according to
ISO guide 34 and certification according to ISO/IEC 17025 to the
field of microbiology. With two manufacturing and development
sites, one in Laramie, Wyoming U.S.A. and the new one in Buchs,
Switzerland, fufills this growing demand for microbial CRMs.
Combining the know-how and capabilities of Sigma-Aldrich and PHE
will benefit microbiologists all over the world.

The Sigma-Aldrich facility in Buchs, Switzerland.

Vitroids™ are prepared from a traceable culture obtained freeze-dried
from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC®) and produced
according a Sigma-Aldrich patented technology.

LENTICULE

®

discs Certified Reference Microorganisms

Cat. No.

Reference Material

Origin

Strain No.

CFU Range

Approx. CFU per disc Accreditation

RMF02275L

Aspergillus brasiliensis (formerly Aspergillus niger)

NCPF®

2275

Low Level

30–120

—

CRM07464L

Bacillus cereus

NCTC®

7464

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM07464M

Bacillus cereus

NCTC®

7464

Medium Level

500–5 × 10

4

P

RM11322Q

Campylobacter jejuni

NCTC®

11322

Low Level

10

2

—

RMF03255L

Candida albicans

NCPF®

3255

Low Level

30–120

—

RMF03255H

Candida albicans

NCPF®

3255

High Level

2 × 10

4

—

RM09750L

Citrobacter freundii

NCTC®

9750

Low Level

30–120

—

CRM00506L

Clostridium bifermentans

NCTC®

506

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM13170L

Clostridium perfringens

NCTC®

13170

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM13170M

Clostridium perfringens

NCTC®

13170

Medium Level

500–5 × 10

4

P

CRM11467L

Cronobacter sakazakii

NCTC®

11467

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM10006L

Enterobacter aerogenes

NCTC®

10006

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM10006M

Enterobacter aerogenes

NCTC®

10006

Medium Level

500–5 × 10

4

P

CRM00775L

Enterococcus faecalis

NCTC®

775

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM00775M

Enterococcus faecalis

NCTC®

775

Medium Level

500–5 × 10

4

P

CRM00775H

Enterococcus faecalis

NCTC®

775

High Level

>10

5

P

CRM09001L

Escherichia coli

NCTC®

9001

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM09001M

Escherichia coli

NCTC®

9001

Medium Level

500–5 × 10

4

P

CRM09001H

Escherichia coli

NCTC®

9001

High Level

>10

5

P

CRM13216L

Escherichia coli

NCTC®

13216

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM12900L

Escherichia coli O157 (NT)

NCTC®

12900

Low Level

30-120

P

CRM08167L

Klebsiella oxytoca

NCTC®

8167

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM11368M

Legionella bozemanii

NCTC®

11368

Medium Level

500–5 × 10

4

P

CRM11371M

Legionella micdadei

NCTC®

11371

Medium Level

500–5 × 10

4

P

CRM12821L

Legionella pneumophila

NCTC®

12821

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM12821M

Legionella pneumophila

NCTC®

12821

Medium Level

500–5 × 10

4

P

CRM11288L

Listeria innocua

NCTC®

11288

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM11994L

Listeria monocytogenes

NCTC®

11994

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM11994M

Listeria monocytogenes

NCTC®

11994

Medium Level

500–5 × 10

4

P

RMBLANK0

Negative Control (No bacterial growth expected) (0 CFU)

—

—

—

—

—

CRM10662L

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

NCTC®

10662

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM10662M

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

NCTC®

10662

Medium Level

500–5 × 10

4

P

CRM09528L

Raoultella planticola (formerly Klebsiella aerogenes)

NCTC®

9528

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM09528M

Raoultella planticola (formerly Klebsiella aerogenes)

NCTC®

9528

Medium Level

500–5 × 10

4

P

RMF03191L

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

NCPF®

3191

Low Level

30–120

—

RMF03191M

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

NCPF®

3191

Medium Level

500–5 × 10

4

—

CRM06676L

Salmonella Enteritidis

NCTC®

6676

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM07832L

Salmonella Nottingham

NCTC®

7832

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM12023L

Salmonella Typhimurium

NCTC®

12023

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM06571L

Staphylococcus aureus

NCTC®

6571

Low Level

30–120

P

CRM06571M

Staphylococcus aureus

NCTC®

6571

Medium Level

500–5 × 10

4

P

CRM11047L

Staphylococcus epidermidis

NCTC®

11047

Low Level

30–120

P

RM11218Q

Vibrio furnissi

NCTC®

11218

Low Level

30-120

—

RM10903Q

Vibrio parahaemolyticus

NCTC®

10903

Low Level

30–120

—

RM11176L

Yersinia enterocolitica

NCTC®

11176

Low Level

30–120

—

Operated by Public Health England

LENTICULE® discs are manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich® under licence from Public Health England.

Operated by Public Health England

Get a FREE sample! of Vitroids

™

& LENTICULE

®

discs

*

For more information and a list of Certified Reference
Microorganisms, visit

sigma-aldrich.com/mibi-crm

* Mention promo code

SFV

when placing your order.

Limit one package per product and per customer; no shipping fee.

sigma-aldrich.com/mibi-crm

50702_Microorganism CRM Flyer_v6_Trifold.indd 2

14/09/15 5:26 pm