The FUELSTAT® resinae PLUS Test

Over the years we (and other scientific organisations) have noticed that H.res is present in approximately 95% of all cases of significant contamination in fuel. The other small % of cases is made up solely of bacteria and fungi (including some yeasts). The consortium works together in the vast majority of cases of contamination in the fuel tank.

In response to calls from operators and maintenance and repair organisations for a real-time test for total microbial contamination in aircraft fuel tanks, Conidia Bioscience Ltd has developed the FUELSTAT® resinae PLUS test kit.

The FUELSTAT® resinae PLUS test kit (Part number FHR8-2), test measures the amount of different types of contamination: H.res, bacteria and other fungi (including yeasts), actively growing in the sample.

The objective of the test is to provide rapid screening of fuel samples (water in fuel or fuel), giving a quick and accurate assessment of H.res, bacteria, and other fungi in the fuel tank, unlike current growth-based tests, which require a minimum of 72 hours to provide any results. The test measures the amount of active H.res, bacteria and other fungi in the sample and provides actions and alert levels.

The FUELSTAT® resinae PLUS measures the weight of H.res, bacteria and other fungi actively growing in the sample. This is a newer, more accurate measurement system than the old CFU count. The test provides results based on a traffic light scenario:

Negative (green light) - negligible contamination that can be ignored.
Low Positive (amber light) - moderate contamination.
High Positive (red light) - heavy contamination.

This latest test kit has now been recommended by IATA and appears in Edition 4 of the latest "Guidance Material on Microbial Contamination in Aircraft Fuel Tanks". The FUELSTAT® resinae PLUS test kit is immediately available from our global aviation distributor "Satair".