If protein is still present, contamination is still present.
In restoration and professional cleaning, protein is a direct indicator of organic contamination, whether from food, bodily fluids, sewage or general organic matter.
The CleanTrust™ Surface Protein Residue Swab (Anaeron AE0100) gives you a fast, on-site way to confirm whether cleaning has actually removed contamination, using a simple colour-change test with no instrumentation required.
Designed for field use, it provides clear, actionable results in minutes, so you can make decisions on site immediately. Anaeron rates it to detect 80 µg of protein after 1 minute, 50 µg after 5 minutes and 20 µg after 10 minutes.
Why This Matters on the Job
- Verify contamination removal. Essential for water damage, bio-risk and hygiene-critical environments.
- Avoid failed inspections and call-backs. Catch missed contamination before handover.
- Support professional sign-off. Provide measurable evidence of cleaning effectiveness.
- Improve technician performance. Instantly show whether a clean has actually worked.
Key Benefits
- Detects protein residue (organic contamination). Confirms whether cleaning has removed contamination, not just visible dirt.
- Fast visual results (1–10 minutes). Enables immediate corrective action on site.
- No meter or instrumentation required. Simple swab-and-activate design for easy field use.
- Clear colour-change indication. Green to purple indicates the presence of protein contamination.
- Repeatable and easy to train staff on. Ideal for standardising QA processes.
Ideal For
- Water damage restorers verifying category 2 and 3 cleaning effectiveness
- Trauma and bio-clean technicians confirming organic residue removal
- Mould remediators checking pre- and post-clean surfaces
- Commercial cleaners working in high-risk or regulated environments
- HVAC cleaning where organic build-up may be present
How It Works
- Let refrigerated swabs come to room temperature, then twist the swab out of the tube without touching the bud.
- Swab the surface (approx. 10 × 10 cm area) in a zig-zag pattern, vertically and horizontally, then return the swab to the tube.
- Activate the reagent: break the valve, squeeze the liquid down onto the swab and shake for about 10 seconds.
- Wait for the reaction and compare the colour with the chart. Green = clean / low protein. Purple = contamination present.
Faster and darker colour change = higher contamination level. Anaeron's read times set the sensitivity: a change at 1 minute indicates at least 80 µg, at 5 minutes 50 µg, at 10 minutes 20 µg. Disregard any colour change that appears after 10 minutes.
| Colour | Result | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Pass | No further action required |
| Grey | Caution — small amount of protein | Repeat cleaning and re-test |
| Purple | Fail — not clean | Repeat cleaning and re-test |
Incubation
For consistent and more sensitive detection, these swabs perform best when used with a controlled heat source such as the CleanTrust Dry Bath Incubator.
- Improves detection of low-level contamination
- Ensures consistent, repeatable results across technicians
- Ideal for professional QA and compliance workflows
While results can be read at ambient temperature, incubation enhances accuracy and reliability, particularly on critical jobs.
Note the difference from Anaeron's documentation: Anaeron presents the AE0100 as a no-equipment test and publishes its read times and sensitivity for reading without incubation. It does not publish an incubation temperature or time for this swab, or a sensitivity figure after incubation. Until Anaeron publishes incubation settings, follow the room-temperature method above for any result you report. If your job needs higher sensitivity, Anaeron's incubated test is the Allergen Surface Protein Swab (AE0200), rated to 5 µg after 15 minutes at 37 °C.
Getting a Reliable Result
- Test surfaces after cleaning. The swab is made to find residue you cannot see, not to grade visibly dirty surfaces.
- Do not touch the swab bud or the test area. Protein is on skin and hair, and handling contaminates the result.
- Rinse cleaning chemicals off and let the surface dry before testing. Anaeron warns (for its AE0200 protein swab) that concentrated alkaline sanitisers can cause false negatives and peroxide-based disinfectants false positives.
- Read within the 10-minute window. Later colour changes do not count.
AE0100 Surface Protein or AE0200 Allergen?
| Surface Protein (AE0100, this product) | Allergen Surface Protein (AE0200) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity (Anaeron) | 80 µg at 1 min, 50 µg at 5 min, 20 µg at 10 min | 5 µg after 15 min at 37 °C |
| Equipment | None | Incubator at 37 °C |
| Best suited to | Quick first-pass checks in the field | Final sign-off and critical jobs where low-level residue matters |
Why Professionals Choose Protein Swabs
ATP testing tells you something is present. Protein testing confirms organic contamination specifically.
These swabs are:
- A simple, low-cost verification tool
- Ideal for quick checks without equipment
- Perfect for confirming cleaning effectiveness before sign-off
Used alongside ATP testing with the CleanTrust ATP Surface Swab and CleanTrust Touch YZ3500 Luminometer, they form part of a complete contamination verification system. Neither test identifies organisms or replaces laboratory testing where a job specification calls for it.
Technical Specifications
| Brand | CleanTrust™ (Anaeron Pty Ltd, Frenchs Forest NSW) |
|---|---|
| Anaeron code | AE0100 (box of 100); also sold by Anaeron as AE0100P, pouch of 20 |
| CCW SKU | CTAE0100 |
| Type | Surface protein residue test swab |
| Pack size | 100 swabs per box |
| Detection sensitivity | ~20 µg protein (typical) at 10 minutes; 50 µg at 5 minutes; 80 µg at 1 minute (Anaeron) |
| Result time | 1–10 minutes depending on sensitivity; disregard changes after 10 minutes |
| Result type | Visual colour change, green to purple (no equipment required) |
| Sample area | Approx. 10 × 10 cm |
| Use case | Cleaning verification and contamination detection |
| Storage | 2–8 °C (Anaeron SDS) |
Safety
The swab liquid is mostly sterile water with less than 1% each of sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide and BCA reagent. Anaeron's SDS lists it as not classified under EU CLP, but also notes it may irritate eyes, skin and the respiratory tract and is harmful if swallowed. Wear disposable gloves and safety glasses, and dispose of used swabs according to local regulations. The SDS states the product is for research use only, not for human or veterinary clinical use.
Pro Tip
Use protein swabs as a first-pass check. If protein is detected, deeper cleaning is required before ATP testing or final sign-off.
Common Mistakes This Helps Avoid
- Signing off jobs with residual organic contamination
- Assuming visual cleanliness = hygienic cleanliness
- Missing contamination in porous or textured surfaces
- Failing audits or hygiene checks
- Inconsistent QA between technicians
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any equipment?
No. Anaeron designs the AE0100 to be read by eye at room temperature. CCW suggests a dry bath incubator for consistency on critical jobs; Anaeron has not published incubation settings for this swab.
How long do I wait before reading?
Up to 10 minutes. A change at 1 minute means a heavy protein load (80 µg or more); by 10 minutes the swab picks up about 20 µg. Ignore any change after 10 minutes.
Will it tell me what the contamination is?
No. It shows protein is present. It does not identify the source or any organism.
Does this swab go in the YZ3500 luminometer?
No. Protein swabs are read by eye. The YZ3500 reads CleanTrust ATP swabs.
Why is the linked instruction sheet for AE0200?
The instructions on this page are Anaeron's AE0200 sheet, which covers the same swab-and-activate method but with 37 °C incubation. Follow the AE0100 read times on this page. Anaeron has not supplied a separate AE0100 sheet to CCW; contact us if you need one.
Verify the Clean — Don't Assume It
Add CleanTrust Surface Protein Swabs to your kit and make sure contamination is actually gone before you walk away.
Documents
CleanTrust™ Surface Protein Swab Flyer
CleanTrust™ Surface Protein Swab Instructions (Anaeron AE0200 sheet — see FAQ)
CleanTrust™ Surface Protein Swab SDS
Video
Related Products
- CleanTrust Protein Allergen Swab, Box of 100 — high-sensitivity incubated protein test
- CleanTrust Incubator – Small Dry Bath
- CleanTrust ATP Surface Swab, Box of 100
- CleanTrust ATP Water Total Swab, Box of 100
- CleanTrust Touch YZ3500 Luminometer
- All CleanTrust products
Not sure whether the Surface Protein or the Allergen swab suits your QA process? Contact Carpet Cleaners Warehouse before ordering and we will help you put the right test kit together.
