When it comes to human health, safety has top priority. With our highly qualified experts and state-of-the-art equipment, we can offer precisely this safety in human medicine at the highest level. For example, for pharmacies in the microbiological testing of pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, in the field of hygiene consulting in hotels, homes, hospitals and other health care facilities with regard to prevention and occupational safety.

Numerous operators of hospitals, health centers as well as pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies already rely on the first-class expertise of AGES. As a state-accredited* testing and conformity assessment body, we guarantee that all our services in the field of human medicine meet the required technical, professional and quality assurance requirements. In addition, you benefit from:

• first-class consulting in solving individual problems
• very short analysis times
• rapid reporting
• well-founded elaboration of recommendations and statements

*The conformity assessment bodies are accredited by the Accreditation Austria (Federal Ministry of Labor and Economy) according to Annex 1 of the valid General Terms and Conditions for the areas listed in the notification and published under www.bmaw.gv.at/Services/Akkreditierung.

Manufacturers of medicinal products (AM) and medical devices (MP) must ensure before placing their products on the market that patients are not exposed to any risk due to insufficient safety, quality or efficacy. An appropriate quality assurance system should ensure that AMs are not sold or dispensed until a competent person has certified that each manufacturing batch has been manufactured and tested in accordance with the requirements specified in the marketing authorization and all other regulations relevant to the manufacture, testing and release of AMs. Pharmaceutical companies, healthcare facilities or pharmacies thus require microbiological testing in accordance with pharmacopoeias and applicable medical/pharmaceutical standards or guidelines.

Our offer

More than 10,000 non-sterile AM are tested annually in the laboratories of the General Microbiology and Hygiene Department in Graz. The department is certified according to GMP and c-GMP and holds an accreditation* as a testing laboratory according to EN ISO 17025. Thus, our analytical procedures are subject to strict national laws (AMG), regulations (AMBO) and standards and comply with the highest international standards (e.g. CFR of the FDA = US Food and Drug Administration). In the pharmaceutical field, our department offers a wide range of tests that are primarily based on the requirements of pharmacopoeias (Eu. Ph., European Pharmacopoeia, USP, American AB, German AB, British AB etc.). In addition to our comprehensive testing services, our customers, which include many well-known drug manufacturers, benefit from our extensive expertise and consulting competence. The following areas can be covered in the testing of non-sterile products by AGES:

• Testing of microbial contamination (quantitative and qualitative) and detection of specific germs
• Germ identification by means of microbiological, biochemical and molecular biological methods
• Growth control and sterile testing of culture media
• Provision of nutrient media
• Testing for sufficient antimicrobial preservation
• Detection and quantification of endotoxins
• Testing of sterilization processes (bioindicators)
• Testing of disinfectants (challenge test)
• Testing of in-use stability with sampling
• Examination of pharmaceutical waters
• Microbiological investigations in the course of plant qualification (including environment, water)
• Environmental testing
• Development of the test method for the respective product
• Verification of the suitability of the method for the respective product (suitability test, validation)
• Preparation of standard-compliant test reports
• Consulting for the solution of individual questions and problems

Our offer

More than 10,000 sterile drugs are tested annually in the laboratories of the General Microbiology and Hygiene Department in Graz. The department is certified according to GMP and c-GMP and holds an accreditation* as a testing laboratory according to EN ISO 17025. Thus, our analytical procedures are subject to strict national laws (AMG), regulations (AMBO) and standards (e.g. for medical devices) and meet the highest international standards (e.g. CFR of the FDA = US Food and Drug Administration).

In the pharmaceutical field, the MIHY department offers a wide range of analyses, which are primarily based on the requirements of pharmacopoeias (especially Eu. Ph., European Pharmacopoeia, USP, American AB).

The analysis of sterile AM/MP requires a high degree of purity. In order to avoid cross-contamination, the tests are therefore also carried out in controlled clean rooms.

The testing itself is specifically adapted in our laboratory to the respective product and to your requirements. In addition to our comprehensive testing services, our customers, which include many well-known pharmaceutical manufacturers, benefit from our extensive expertise and consulting competence in pharmaceutical and medical products.

The following areas can be covered when testing for sterility by AGES:

• Performance of sterility testing (membrane filtration, direct loading) according to Eu. Ph. 2.6.1 and USP 71>
• Development of the test method for the respective product
• Verification of the suitability of the method for the respective product (suitability test, validation, stasis test).
• In case of detection of product contamination, germ identification by means of microbiological, biochemical and molecular biological methods
• Preparation of standard-compliant test reports
• Consulting for the solution of individual questions and problems

The range of products we examine for you includes:

• Pharmaceuticals in human and veterinary medicine, (surgical) medical devices
• Bone tissue, blood and cell fluids
• Isotope diagnostics
• Syringes, infusions and infusion bags
• Tube feeds
• Aqueous solutions (e.g. injectables), soluble powders
• Ointments, creams, oils and oily solutions (e.g. ophthalmics)

The ÖNORM B 5019 "Hygienic planning, execution, operation, monitoring and renovation of central drinking water heating systems" describes a largely safe installation as well as the safe operation of drinking water heating systems to prevent the possibility of infection by Legionella pneumophila and other species. The training is intended to increase awareness of this topic. If desired, the practical part for the technical staff focuses on the execution of correct sampling. All participants receive a certificate of participation or training certificate from the AGES Academy.

Our offer

The training takes place either on site or in AGES' own training facilities. The practical part is carried out on request. The following areas can be covered by AGES during the short training course:

• Theoretical part:
  • Overview of origin, spread, impact of Legionnaires' disease (Legionella pneumonia).
  • Overview of standards and regulations that must be observed or followed for the operation and maintenance of drinking water heating systems
  • Inspection of drinking water heating systems
• Practical part for technical staff (on request):
  • Implementation of proper sampling and sample handling (storage and transport) for the purpose of analysis.
• On-site training in the company or other formats on requestCertificate of participation or training certificate from the AGES Academy .

Clean, safe water is a precious commodity. Operators of a public water supply system, a health or wellness facility, hotels, but also property managers bear a great responsibility in this regard. Specifically, it is your task to comply with the strict provisions of the Drinking Water Ordinance or ÖNORM. Our highly qualified experts at AGES will support you in a competent and reliable manner.

Our Institute for Hydroanalytics, which specializes in water hygiene, is accredited* as a testing and inspection body. This makes it the first port of call when it comes to confirming the safety of your water or taking appropriate measures to do so:

• Rely on our extensive, scientific know-how as well as our practical experience in the physical, chemical and microbiological analysis of water.
• Benefit from expert advice and support in all matters that are legally required and necessary for optimal water quality. Individual, flexible, fast on the basis of our consistent, process-oriented quality management.

*The conformity assessment bodies are accredited by the Accreditation Austria (Federal Ministry of Labor and Economy) for the areas listed in the notification and published at www.bmaw.gv.at/Services/Akkreditierung according to Annex 1 of the applicable GTC.

The institutes of our Public Health Business Unit (Institute of Hydroanalytics Linz, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene Vienna and Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene Graz) are accredited as testing laboratories according to EN ISO 17025 and as joint inspection body of the Business Unit according to EN ISO 17020*. Within the scope of drinking water testing, we clarify your exact testing needs in a detailed consultation, such as a chemical and microbiological examination or testing for pesticide residues. Based on this, we carry out a thorough inspection and prepare professional test or inspection reports including an expert opinion in accordance with food law.

Our offer

According to the Drinking Water Ordinance BGBl. II No. 304/2001 as amended, operators of water supply systems must have the water quality for human consumption checked. On the basis of the official decision on the scope of testing, our experienced AGES experts carry out the inspection in accordance with ÖNORM M 5874. In addition to the functional testing of the water treatment plants, we analyze the water samples for all parameters of the Drinking Water Ordinance and the Austrian Food Code (Codex Chapter B1 Drinking Water). This includes microbiological analysis (Escherichia coli, enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella, etc.), analysis of standard chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, water hardness, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, nitrate, sulfate, nitrite, ammonium, iron, manganese, phosphate, fluoride), special chemical analysis (heavy metals, uranium, BTX, chlorinated hydrocarbons, etc.), pesticide residues (chlorinated hydrocarbons, etc.), and water quality analysis.), pesticide residues (pesticide active ingredients and relevant/non-relevant metabolites), anthropogenic pollutants (antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, hormones, wastewater indicators, etc.) and radioactivity (total direct dose, radon, radium isotopes, etc.). Finally, you will receive a professional test report and an expert opinion in accordance with food law.

We can offer the following services for drinking water testing:

• Consultation to clarify the order
• Inspection of the drinking water supply systems
• Examination of all parameters of the Drinking Water Ordinance and the Austrian Food Codex
• Functional tests of water treatment plants
• Preparation of accredited test or inspection reports and food law expert opinions

Bathing water analysis of outdoor and indoor swimming pools, whirlpool tubs and small bathing ponds

As part of the bathing water examination, we clarify your exact examination requirements in a detailed consultation, such as a chemical and microbiological examination or problems with the water treatment (filter contamination). Based on this, we carry out a thorough inspection and prepare accredited inspection reports and water hygiene reports.

Our offer

§ Section 14 of the Baths Hygiene Act regulates bathing water inspections of outdoor and indoor swimming pools, warm whirlpool tubs (whirlpools) and small bathing ponds. Our experienced AGES experts carry out the inspection and sampling for the suitability of the water as bathing water. In addition to the functional testing of pools, whirlpool tubs and small bathing ponds, we examine the bathing water of outdoor and indoor pools as well as therapy pools in accordance with the Bathing Hygiene Ordinance. This includes microbiological testing (Escherichia coli, enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella, Salmonella), testing of standard chemical parameters (free and combined chlorine, pH, chloride, nitrate, oxidizability, flocculant residues, trihalomethanes, etc.) as well as testing of individual issues (filter contamination, etc.). Finally, you will receive a professional test report and a water hygiene certificate. We can offer the following services for bathing water testing:

• Consultation to clarify the order
• Inspections of pool baths, whirlpools and small bathing ponds in accordance with the Bathing Hygiene Ordinance
• Examination of bathing water of outdoor and indoor pools as well as therapy pools
• Microbiological examinationExamination of standard chemical parameters
• Consulting in the solution of individual questions and problems
• Preparation of accredited inspection reports and water hygiene expertises

Our Food Microbiology Department at the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene Graz offers the following services:

• Detection / quantification / identification of pathogenic and hygiene-relevant microorganisms in foodstuffs
• Assessment of foodstuffs
• Consultation on questions of microbiology and hygiene (e.g. swab samples)

Sample collection hours: Monday to Thursday from 07:30 - 14:00 h, Friday from 07:30 - 12:00 h.

You can find sample slips and forms here