4) Allergen Cleaning Validation and Verification
Neither validation nor verification should be done without completing thorough visual inspections, also known as physical audits. This is complemented by analytical analyses to test for example, finished products, work-in-progress, rinse water, flush material, environmental surface swabs or a combination all of these. When validating, it is best to use a method that yields quantitative results in order to establish whether allergen-cross contact has occurred after cleaning and if it has, by how much. Testing rinse water or environmental surface swabs using rapid and reliable onsite testing kits are ideal for supplementing cleaning verification.