I agree with Reuben.  The finial test needs to be done by either a school or testing lab above reproach.  In the mean time, we can do some bootleg tests to find a test that works well for our purpose.   In the fabricator community prodject section, there are a couple of links to some tests already done.  The kid had a good test, the Marble Institute chose a test that made their product look good.  As Reuben  and Tom suggested, we need a real world test using real kitchens.

There are different gram stains that are capable of dying different bacteria different colors, so we might be able to sort out the begnign bugs from the e.coli we use.

If we get to use actual kitchens, we need to swab before we clean and  after we clean.  I don't imagine people would like us contaminating their tops with chicken juice, so that will have to be done on test tops.

[/QUOTE]

Al:

I took the liberty of editing your solicitation, I hope you don't mind. Use this if you like:

Hello:

We are searching for information regarding the sanitary performance of solid surface countertops. Would you be so kind as to help?

Our goal is to act as an online clearinghouse by posting all the information we collect . We will attribute all information to its respective donor and keep it whole for accuracy. We believe that science will provide an effective counterbalance to the glut of information disseminated by the stone industry's trade asociation public relations department.

We are also working on a universal fabrication manual. May we count on your assistence with this also? Setting and enforcing proper fabrication and installation proceedures raises the bar across our industry, making all of us stronger and more competitive. 

Thanks for your help,

Al

Joe

Andy, I already emailed this, but thought I would share it with the others.

One brand replied positively so far, actually said they are going to include their portion of the standards in their catalog.  Another brand refered us to issfa.  EOS is actively sending info already, Gordon Shell, who I assume is the same Gordon who posts here as well.  Gordon  sent some awesome pics on sealed and unsealed granite , and some ecoli on granite and on solid surface.  I'm working on finding out how to separate the pics from the slide show so I can post them here and on the Defense of Solid Surface page on google.  I also need to get his permission to post them.

Nice Edit Joe.  Looks like you been at the keyboard once before.

Al,

Keep up the effort and I will help with anything you need after the EXPO.  I got a list a mile long, but I hope to have it all done by March 14.

Andy, keep focused on the show.  I'll keep everyone posted.   Count on a lot of polishing and editing on this project after you get time after the show.  I spoke with Mory tonight about the manual and that guy has a bunch of brands ready to participate.  I'm going to send Mory a rough outine for the manual, and I emphasise rough, tonite before I quit for the night.  I am going though manuals and trying to pick out the common procedures without making it too wordy .  Perhaps once it is done, I can get my wife to set it up as a website with links to an expanded version of each process.  If we make it too long, it won't get read or the important info will be drowned out by the detail.

At some point, we will start posting parts of it here for critque, just remember that brevity is important, we won't write it toward anyone but new fabricators so many things will be left for the advanced version and we need to write it for all brands with separate pages for each brand to list exceptions and additions.  It won't be perfect, but I can count on you guys to catch the obvious as well as the subtle.