Updated: 12.13.22

Cloth Sampling Video Script

After years of research and in plant trials, FSIS is implementing a cloth sampling method for 

beef manufacturing trim and bench trim. Today we are going to collect a Beef Manufacturing 

Trimmings sample utilizing the “cloth” sample collection method from a combo bin and in 

boxes. This same method will be used to collect Bench Trim samples.

When you receive the sampling box you are to verify that it contains all the supplies necessary 

to collect the sample.

The box will include the following sampling supplies: 

A zip-Lock type bag that will be used to package the cloth;

An Individually packed cloth; 

You should have a –plastic sleeve that will be used to protect the sample form;

There will be 3 – overnight courier Billable Stamps, 1 per Lab, Eastern, Western, 

and Midwest 

A Set of –FSIS sample seals; 

There should be 1 – Pair of non-sterile gloves

one pair of arm-length gloves; and 

a –tube of sterile nBPW.

There will be one or two Gel-packs 

Cardboard separators 
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And, A Foam plug 

The color and packaging of some of the supplies you receive may vary slightly from what is 

shown in this video. 

You are also to have an alcohol-based spray, not gel, sanitizer available. The sanitizer is not 

included in the sampling supply box but is available from FSIS Material Management Supply 

Center. So, this will need to be ordered separately in preparation for sampling tasks.

When you receive a new box of supplies, first verify that all the necessary supplies are included 

and available, then place the nBPW in a secure refrigerator where it will remain under FSIS 

control. At least 24 hours before sample collection, place the gel coolant pack or packs into the 

freezer to ensure they are frozen solid.

On sampling day, pre-chill the sampling container by placing the absorbent pad in the shipping 

container to line the bottom, then place the gel packs on top of the absorbent pads. One or two 

gel packs may be used provided in the sampling box depending on the time of the year.

Regardless of the number of combo bins, boxes, or containers in the lot, you will only use one 

cloth during sampling. Only one combo bin or up to 5 boxes or containers will be sampled with 

the cloth. We will discuss sampling of the lot in just a little bit. However, all product in the 

sampled lot will need to be held by the establishment pending test results.

Carry your sampling supplies to the sampling area, including alcohol-based sanitizer spray 

ordered from the FSIS Material Management Supply Center. Wash your hands and arms to the 

mid-forearm. Then prepare your sample supplies, by removing the sleeves and gloves from 
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their packaging. You will also remove the clear, perforated plastic shrink wrap from the tube of 

nBPW and set the nBPW aside for use later. The product selected for sampling may be exposed 

and ready for sampling by the establishment as it is here today, but, if you need to expose the 

product use caution to avoid touching non-food contact surfaces.

At this point, find the bag that contains the cloth in your sampling supplies. Without touching 

the cloth, tear open the bag and widen the mouth of the bag using the pull tabs, and. invert the 

bag to allow the dry cloth to drop onto the surface of the product. Remember Do NOT touch 

the cloth with your bare hands.

Place the empty plastic sample bag in an upright position on a clean, sanitary surface such as a 

sample caddy/tote or table within suitable distance of the sampling area. Keeping the bag 

upright will make it easier to place the cloth back in the bag once the sampling procedure is 

complete

Put on the arm sleeves and gloves that were provided in the sampling kit. Then use the alcoholbased spray sanitizer to sanitize your gloved hands and plastic sleeves simultaneously. After 

your gloved hands and forearm sleeves are sanitized, do not touch anything except for the 

cloth. Before touching the cloth and beginning the sampling procedure, be sure your gloves 

and forearm sleeves have dried. 

This next section demonstrates sampling product in a combo bin. Most of the instructions also 

apply to product in boxes, totes or other containers. For further instructions, on sampling 

boxes, totes and other containers, please jump to the time code on your screen. 

Visually select a point on the combo to begin and end the sampling procedure. You are to 
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move around the combo in a uniform manner vigorously massaging the entire surface of the 

combo using a firm, downward, scrubbing motion. 

Once you have determined your starting point, unfold the cloth on the product and tightly 

grasp the cloth with both hands. While using both hands, apply downward pressure to 

vigorously massage and scrub the surface of the product with the unfolded cloth. The cloth is 

made of durable material and is unlikely to tear. Make sure to reach into the spaces and 

crevices between meat pieces to sample as much of the product’s surface area as possible. You 

may have to re-grip the cloth as you perform the sampling to ensure enough pressure is being 

used. It is important to massage vigorously so that any bacteria, if present, will be transferred 

to the surface of the cloth. Non-vigorous massage or simply gliding the cloth across the surface 

of the meat in a “shoe-shine” fashion may not successfully transfer bacteria to the cloth.

Continue moving around the combo bin as you vigorously massage the meat. Once you have 

sampled approximately 1⁄2 of the combo flip the cloth over and then sample the other half of the 

combo. If you are sampling containers other than a combo, flip the cloth over approximately 

half-way through the number of containers being sampled.

Each half of the combo is to be sampled for approximately 45 to 60 seconds. The total sampling 

time per lot will be around 1 and a half to 2 minutes.

Next, we will demonstrate sampling of beef trim in boxes. You are to use this procedure if the 

product is packaged in boxes, totes, or any container other than combo bins. 

Randomly select the lot of boxes or containers to be sampled. If the establishment ’s lot is 

composed of product in boxes, totes, tubs or other similar containers, you are to use 1 cloth for 
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up to 5 boxes or containers. For example, if an establishment defines its lot as 4 boxes, you are 

to sample all 4 boxes using 1 cloth, for a total of 1 cloth collected and shipped to the lab. If an 

establishment’s lot is greater than five containers, you are a randomly select 5 containers and 

sample all 5 boxes using 1 cloth. 

In today’s lot, the lot was 4 boxes, so we will sample 4 boxes.

Next, you will ask the establishment to move the boxes to the sampling location and prepare 

them to be sampled.

Then, you are to follow the handwashing, gloving and sanitizing process as described earlier in 

the video for combo bin sampling. You are to drop the cloth into one box after washing your 

hands and grab the cloth only after gloving to begin sampling. preparing to sample boxes is the 

same as sampling a combo bin. As a tip, you will need to avoid touching the outer surface of the 

box with the cloth. To do this, you can tightly gather the side of the cloth you are not sampling 

with in one hand, and then when moving to the next box, release the gathered side not being 

used for sampling, and tightly gather the side that was previously used. This allows you more 

control of the cloth. 

You are to use the same vigorous sampling motion as used with combo bins. Make sure to 

contact as much product in the box as possible and then move to the next box repeating the 

sampling procedure until all of the selected boxes have been sampled. You are to sample for a 

total of 1 and a half to 2 minutes per lot, so divide your time equally per box. Flip the cloth over 

when you are approximately half way through the sampling process.
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Whether you sampled a combo or boxes, after sampling the cloth should be damp, should have 

a darkened appearance and should have picked up liquid and bits of meat pieces. 

Once folded, return the cloth to the original clear plastic sample bag, paying special attention to 

not allow the cloth to touch the outside surface of the plastic sample bag. 

Remove your gloves and sleeves and dispose of them in the trash. 

Next, carefully open the nBPW tube and aseptically pour all of the pre-chilled nBPW into the 

open bag. Make sure that the tube does not touch the inside of the bag or go into the bag. Only 

the liquid buffer should touch the inside of the bag.

Now use gentle pressure on the outside of the plastic bag to push the cloth down into the 

nBPW and remove excess air from the bag. Roll or fold the top of the bag down at least 3 times 

and then fold in the wire tabs to secure the bag and prevent leakage. 

Discard the empty nBPW tube in the trash.

You are now ready to label the sample. Place one small, barcoded label seal on the sample bag 

containing the cloth. Then place the sample bag containing the cloth into the zipper lock bag 

and close it. You are to include a medium sized, barcoded seal on the zipper lock bag as 

described in FSIS Directive 7355.1. Place the labeled and completed sampling form in the plastic 

sample form sleeve. For more information on using the barcoded labels, please see FSIS 

Directive 7355.1, Use of Sample Seals for Program Samples and Other Applications.

Now we need to pack the shipping container as soon as possible after sample collection. Your 

shipping container should already be pre-chilled with an absorbent pad and one or two pre-
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frozen gel packs at the bottom of the container as shown at the beginning of this video. In this 

video, two gel frozen gel packs will be used. 

Place a cardboard separator on top of the pre- frozen gel pack. Place the double-bagged cloth 

sample inside the insulated sample shipping box on top of the cardboard separator. Put a 

second cardboard separator on top of the sample before adding the second pre-frozen gel 

pack. Finally, add the foam plug to the box. Add the completed sample form contained in the 

sleeve provided on top of the foam plug. 

Proper use of the packing materials provided for sample collection will help ensure that an 

appropriate temperature is maintained during shipping;

As a reminder, the lab will discard the sample if it is not cold enough, if there is no nBPW or if 

the buffer leaked during shipping. So please take care to keep the shipping containers away 

from heat sources and to properly fold the sample collection bag after adding the buffer. 

Ship the sample via overnight courier.

This completes our cloth sampling of raw beef manufacturing trimmings or bench trim products 

from a combo bin or boxes. If you have additional questions, please discuss them with your 

supervisor or submit questions through askFSIS.