1. Please tell us about yourself. What brought you to your current position?
I have over 25 years of experience in filtration, particularly in sterile filtration and quality control (QC). My education is in microbiology, and I started my career in filtration as a QC microbiologist. My first responsibilities included testing products for organism retention, pyrogenicity, and recovery performance. Structural integrity of finished products was also a major focus of my early experience.
In addition to my laboratory experience, I’ve held positions in technical services supporting applications for laboratory products, from media preparation, quality monitoring, and analytical chemistry to environmental monitoring. I also have experience with new product development of a unique pleated structure capsule filter and marketing product management.
2. What is your favorite part of the work you’ve done in this field?
Early on in my career, I was hired to do microbiology QC testing on the quality of membranes and device integrity. A third-party contract testing lab was also brought in to support the QC microbiology lab. I had the good fortune to run the combined lab, which gave me exposure to writing test methods, interacting with customers, alongside performing testing.
Every week, I tested a variety of samples from municipal and environmental water, bottled water, industrial process water—dip tank rinses for automotive parts—foods like pickles and sweet rolls, and pharmaceutical R&D samples. So, not only did I get to understand the quality and performance of filtration devices, but I also had practical experience using the products on actual samples in real-life testing.
3. What is your talk about?
My webinar explores the evolution and enhancement of microbiological testing methods, focusing on the membrane filtration (MF) technique. It begins with a historical overview of microbiological advances, from the early discoveries of microbes to the development of modern pharmacopeial standards.
The session compares traditional methods, such as pour plates, spread plates, and most probable number (MPN) using the MF technique, highlighting MF’s advantages in handling a range of sample types and sizes, improving detection limits, and overcoming inhibitory substances. It also discusses regulatory guidance from the US Pharmacopeia and other standards, offering insights into method suitability and validation.
The attendees will learn the practical considerations for laboratory setup, including equipment choices and sterilization protocols, and Cytiva’s solutions, like the MicroFunnel™ filter funnel and Sentino™ microbiology pump, which streamline and enhance bioburden testing workflows.
4. Why do you think it’s important to discuss this topic with our audience?
Discussing the topic of elevating traditional bioburden testing with MF techniques is important because it addresses critical challenges and advances in microbiological QC, especially in regulated industries, like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and water testing. As regulatory expectations evolve and product complexity increases, laboratories must adopt more efficient, reliable, and compliant testing methods.
This webinar helps professionals understand how MF offers superior sensitivity, flexibility, and contamination control compared to traditional methods. It also provides practical guidance on selecting the right techniques, complying with pharmacopeial standards, and optimizing lab workflows with modern equipment. This session will empower the audience to improve testing accuracy, reduce risk, and enhance overall product safety and quality.
Patty Lee has over 25 years of experience in quality control (QC), focusing on filtration. Her educational background is in microbiology, and she started her career in filtration as a QC microbiologist. Patty’s first responsibilities included testing products for organism retention, pyrogenicity, and recovery performance. In addition to laboratory experience, she has held positions in technical service for laboratory products, spanning media preparation, quality monitoring, analytical chemistry, environmental monitoring, new product development, and marketing product management.
Register today for free to attend Patty’s and other insightful webinars at the 2025 Microbiology Week!
