The faculty and staff at the Center for Biofilm Engineering bring 35 years of experience in understanding, controlling, and exploiting biofilm found in industrial, medical, and environmental systems. As a part of the CBE’s Industrial Program, CBE faculty and staff perform projects that assess how a company’s innovative chemistry, coating, or process performs against biofilm.

The CBE will test the product or process following one of the ASTM biofilm protocols, which were originally developed and/or validated in the CBE Standardized Biofilm Methods Laboratory. The CBE often modifies the standardized biofilm reactors and protocols to customize the experiment to better model the environment where the product or process will be applied. Finally, the CBE may assist with the statistical analysis of data generated within and outside of the CBE laboratories. 


Testing Expertise: 

  • Biofilm disinfectant efficacy testing
  • Removal of biofilm from surfaces
  • Indwelling medical devices
  • Oral biofilms
  • Chronic wounds
  • Biofilm found on food contact surfaces
  • Control of biofilm in industrial and process water systems
  • Biofilm in treated recreational water venues
  • Biofilm in the oil and gas industry
  • Statistical assessment of laboratory and clinical data
  • Microscopic evaluation of porous and nonporous surfaces
  • Molecular assessment of laboratory and field samples 

ASTM Biofilm Methods

The Standardized Biofilm Methods Lab at the CBE was created to meet research, industry, and regulatory agency needs for standard analytical methods necessary for the development and regulatory acceptance of novel biofilm control technologies. In this role, the SBML has facilitated the acceptance of six biofilm methods that have been approved by the American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM). Those methods are:

E3321 Intraluminal catheter model used to evaluate antimicrobial urinary catheters for prevention of E. coli biofilm growth (2021)

E2871 Single Tube Method (2012)

E2799 MBECTM Assay Method (2011)

E2647 Drip Flow Biofilm Reactor® Method (2008)

E2562 CDC Biofilm Reactor® Method (2007)

E2196 Rotating Disk Reactor Method (2002)

 

For download: About CBE Testing Labs


Contact:

Darla Goeres
Coordinator of Industrial Development
darla_g@montana.edu
Ph: (406) 994-2440

 

Medical Biofilms Lab

Standardized Biofilm Methods Lab

Methods & Reactor Instruction Videos

Industry Membership Program