Microbiology
Evaluate antimicrobial performance and microbial interactions through antimicrobial efficacy testing, biofilm models, and standardized microbiology methods.
Microbial performance influences the safety, efficacy, and long-term success of medical products ranging from antimicrobial coatings and wound dressings to biomaterials, engineered tissues, and novel therapeutics. iFyber provides antimicrobial efficacy testing (including MIC/MBC), AATCC 100 quantitative analysis, and advanced biofilm testing services that help researchers evaluate antimicrobial activity, characterize microbial behavior, and generate meaningful data to support product development, regulatory submissions, and product claims.
Whether applying established microbiology methods or developing application-specific approaches, our studies are designed around the scientific questions driving your development program.
Antimicrobial Efficacy Testing Services
Antimicrobial efficacy testing measures how effectively a product inhibits or eliminates microorganisms under controlled laboratory conditions. These studies help researchers characterize antimicrobial activity, compare formulations, establish potency, and generate performance data that supports product development and regulatory submissions.
Researchers commonly use antimicrobial efficacy testing to:
- Compare antimicrobial formulations
- Screen prototype technologies
- Characterize antimicrobial potency
- Support product claims
- Generate regulatory data
iFyber's Capabilities in Antimicrobial Efficacy Testing
Every antimicrobial technology presents unique scientific questions. Rather than applying a single testing strategy to every product, iFyber designs studies around the product configuration, microbial challenge, intended use, material composition, and development objectives to generate meaningful, application-relevant data.
Capabilities Include:
- Custom antimicrobial assay development
- Product-specific study design
- Comparative performance evaluation
- Quantitative and qualitative analysis
- Clinically relevant microbial challenges
- Regulatory data generation
MIC and MBC testing provide foundational insight into the potency and killing activity of antimicrobial agents. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) identifies the lowest concentration needed to inhibit microbial growth, while the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) determines the concentration required to achieve microbial kill.
iFyber performs MIC and MBC testing following established CLSI guidelines and can tailor assay designs for novel materials, formulations, and device‑based systems. These studies help characterize antimicrobial activity, compare candidate technologies, and generate data suitable for early‑stage screening, product optimization, and regulatory submissions.
AATCC Method 100 Testing Services
AATCC Test Method 100 is an industry-recognized quantitative method used to evaluate antimicrobial performance directly within textile-based materials. It is commonly used for wound dressings, treated fabrics, and other antimicrobial textiles where quantitative reduction data supports product evaluation or claim substantiation.
Researchers commonly use AATCC Method 100 to:
- Support antimicrobial claims
- Compare treated textiles
- Evaluate wound dressings
- Generate quantitative reduction data
- Support regulatory documentation
iFyber's Capabilities in AATCC Method 100 Testing
iFyber performs AATCC Method 100 testing using standardized protocols while tailoring study design to the product, microbial challenge, and development objectives. Our experience with antimicrobial textiles and wound care products helps generate meaningful performance data for both development and regulatory activities.
Capabilities Include:
- Antimicrobial textile evaluation
- Quantitative microbial reduction
- Wound dressing testing
- Product claim support
- Regulatory documentation
Biofilm Testing Services
Biofilms present one of the greatest challenges in microbiology and antimicrobial development, as microorganisms within mature biofilms behave differently than free‑floating bacteria. Biofilm testing helps researchers evaluate a product's ability to prevent biofilm formation, reduce established biofilms, and better understand performance under clinically relevant conditions.
Researchers commonly use biofilm testing to:
- Evaluate antimicrobial dressings
- Compare antibiofilm technologies
- Screen prototype formulations
- Investigate microbial persistence
- Support wound care development
iFyber's Capabilities in Biofilm Testing
Biofilm performance depends on the product, microorganism, and intended clinical application. iFyber applies multiple biofilm models to evaluate prevention, eradication, dispersal, and combination therapies while selecting the approach most appropriate for the scientific question being investigated.
Capabilities Include:
- Static and dynamic biofilm models
- Prevention and eradication studies
- Product-specific study design
- Clinically relevant microorganisms
- Comparative antibiofilm evaluation
Static biofilm models evaluate microbial attachment, biofilm formation, and antimicrobial efficacy under controlled laboratory conditions. These systems support a wide range of microorganisms, including well‑characterized reference strains and clinical isolates of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
iFyber offers microtiter plate assays (96‑, 24‑, and 6‑well formats), the Bottom‑of‑the‑Plate assay, the Calgary Biofilm Device (MBEC), and coupon‑based biofilm models. Static platforms provide reproducible, high‑throughput formats for assessing biofilm formation, eradication, and treatment response using quantitative and qualitative endpoints such as viable cell counts (CFU), biofilm biomass (crystal violet), metabolic activity assays (ATP, resazurin, XTT), MBIC/MBEC determination, and microscopy‑based imaging.
Dynamic biofilm models incorporate continuous nutrient flow and shear stress to better mimic physiological conditions. These systems are well‑suited for evaluating mature biofilms, medical devices, surface coatings, and antimicrobial performance under clinically relevant flow environments.
iFyber offers the Modified Robbins Device (MRD), Drip Flow Reactor, Rotating Disk Reactor (RDR), and dynamic coupon‑based biofilm models. Treatment response and biofilm behavior can be assessed using endpoints such as viable cell counts (CFU), metabolic activity assays (ATP, resazurin, XTT), MBIC/MBEC determination, and advanced microscopy techniques including confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy.
The Minimum Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC) assay is a common high‑throughput method for evaluating antimicrobial activity against biofilms, but it is limited by organism compatibility and high variability.
iFyber’s Bottom‑of‑the‑Plate (BOTP) biofilm assay provides a more flexible and reliable alternative, enabling diverse microorganisms to form mature biofilms at the bottom of 96‑well plates. This model supports high‑throughput screening with reduced variability and is well‑suited for assessing biofilm prevention and eradication across a wide range of antimicrobial products.
The Porcine Dermal Model (PDM), originally developed by Dr. Greg Schultz, supports the growth of mature biofilms within a natural porcine dermal matrix, providing a clinically relevant soft‑tissue substrate. The resulting biofilms exhibit high antibiotic tolerance and closely mimic those found in human wounds.
iFyber routinely adapts this model to evaluate antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, creating wounded and infected tissue explants that enable high‑throughput screening across multiple assay formats, including prevention, eradication, dispersal, and synergy. This ex vivo system offers a practical, biologically relevant platform for testing compounds, prototype formulations, and wound dressings, complementing more costly in vivo studies.
Microbiology Services Support a Range of Common Applications
- Wound care products and antimicrobial dressings
- Medical devices and implantable technologies
- Biomaterials and tissue-engineered products
- Antimicrobial coatings and surface technologies
- Medical textiles and treated materials
- Oral healthcare products and dental materials
- Therapeutic formulations and anti-infective technologies
- Combination products and novel delivery systems
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Discuss Your Microbiology Strategy
Whether you're evaluating antimicrobial activity, selecting the appropriate biofilm model, or determining the best testing strategy for a new technology, iFyber works with researchers to generate meaningful microbiology data that supports confident development decisions.