The standard details three primary methods for detecting and enumerating microorganisms on surfaces:
| Standard | Scope | Key Difference | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Surface sampling techniques | How to apply the swab/plate. | | ISO 7218 | General microbiology lab requirements | Where to incubate (incubator specs). | | ISO 11133 | Quality of culture media | What to put in the agar. | | ISO 4833 | Enumeration of microorganisms | How to count colonies post-sampling. |
The standard specifies four primary methods for environmental monitoring, depending on the surface type and size: