Agriculture Biosecurity Quat Testing

Best Practices for Agriculture & Farm Biosecurity

• Use High-Strength Sanitizers Where Needed: use 10K ppm quat solutions for disinfection of tools, benches, irrigation lines, & livestock equipment where resistant pathogens or heavy organic loads are a concern.
• Test Every Batch of Sanitizer: Always confirm concentration with Indigo® 10,000 ppm quat test strips before use — visual clarity of the solution does not guarantee correct strength.
• Match the Right Disinfectant to the Task: Greenhouse & crop tools: focus on pruning shears, knives, and benches.
• Livestock & poultry biosecurity: footbaths, boot dips, pens, and feeding equipment.
• Refresh Solutions Frequently: Replace sanitizer when it becomes visibly dirty, diluted by rain or irrigation water, or when test strips show loss of concentration.
• Control the Organic Load: Clean tools and surfaces of soil, sap, and organic matter before sanitizing — organic material binds quats and lowers effectiveness.
• Monitor pH and Water Quality: Quats are most stable in neutral to slightly alkaline conditions. Avoid hard water buildup that may reduce activity.
• Train Farm & Greenhouse Staff: Provide clear instructions for mixing, testing, and recording sanitizer concentrations as part of audit readiness and regulatory compliance.
• Document Sanitation Records: Keep logs of test results, solution changes, and training to satisfy HACCP, GAP, and food safety audits.
• Integrate with Wider Biosecurity Measures: Pair sanitation with controlled access, pest control, and hygiene protocols to reduce risks from invasive pests and animal/plant pathogens.