Applicability of the swab sampling technique in order to determine the microbial quality of poultry by means of ATP Bioluminescence

authored by: H. D. Werlein, Regina Fricke
Abstract: In this study, 64 chicken skin samples and 126 breast samples were examined concerning the correlation between measurements of microbial ATP with the bioluminescent method that allows to examine samples with a lower degree of contamination than the common bioluminescent method because it offers the possibility of drawing the 10th quantity of sample through the filter by vacuum and thereby concentrating the number of microorganisms. The samples were purchased from local supermarkets and farmer's markets and prepared for all determinations by swabbing a defined area of their surface. The swab sampling technique was compared with a destructive method. The results indicate that the difference between the values obtained by swabbing and the total number of CFU is relatively constant (r = 0.93). The difference is about a half tenth power. Parallel to the ATP measurement, the microbial level of all samples was determined on plate count. Additionally, the Enterobacteriaceae colony count was determined for the breast samples. The limits of detection were > 10² CFU per cm² for chicken skin and > 10² CFU per cm² for the breast samples with correlation coefficients of r = 0.95 and r = 0.89 respectively. Furthermore, a correlation between CFU and the Enterobacteriaceae colony count was found.
Organisation(s): Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Type: Article
Journal: Archiv fur Lebensmittelhygiene
Volume: 48
Pages: 14-16
No. of pages: 3
ISSN: 0003-925X
Publication date: 1997
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Food Science, Microbiology, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Electronic version(s): https://eurekamag.com/research/003/044/003044657.php (Access: Closed)